三者的意思相近,但在語氣、句型與使用位置上仍有差異。 點選下方問題,查看用法說明與英中對照例句。
在一般讓步句型中,though 與 although 通常可以互換, 主要差異是表達風格。Though 較常見於口語, although 較常見於正式書面語。 Even though 也常能用在相同結構中,但會加強讓步語氣。
句尾表示「不過」的 though,不能直接換成 although 或 even though。
句尾 though 通常作副詞使用,意思接近「不過、然而」, 用來補充與前文形成反差的觀點。 它前面的句子通常已經完整,後方不需要再接子句。
The restaurant was crowded. The service was good, though.
(這間餐廳人很多,不過服務很好。)
Although 不能直接代替句尾副詞 though, 單獨放在句尾表示「不過」。 不過,although 引導的整個讓步子句可以放在主句後方, 因此要區分連接詞本身的位置與整個子句的位置。
The room was comfortable although it was small.
(房間住起來很舒適,雖然它很小。)
兩者都能表達讓步,但 even though 更強調事實與結果之間的反差。 Although 通常陳述一般讓步關係; even though 則突出「儘管這個情況成立,結果仍然發生」, 並不是單純比 although 更正式。
Although he was tired, he kept studying.
(雖然他很累,但他仍然繼續讀書。)
Even though he was tired, he kept studying.
(儘管他很累,他仍然繼續讀書。)
Though 作連接詞時,最常見的基本結構是後接主詞與動詞, 形成讓步子句。 但正式英文中也會出現省略子句, 因此不能說所有情況都必須保留完整的主詞與動詞。 如果 though 作句尾副詞,後方則不需要接子句。
Though tired, she kept working.
(雖然很累,她仍然繼續工作。)
在標準英文的同一組讓步句型中, 不應同時用 although 與 but 連接讓步子句和主句。 可以保留 although 並刪除 but, 或改用 but 連接兩個對等子句。 Though、even though 引導的基本讓步句型也遵循相同原則。
Although she was busy, she helped us.
(雖然她很忙,但她仍然幫助了我們。)
She was busy, but she helped us.
(她很忙,但她仍然幫助了我們。)
Though 作連接詞時是從屬連接詞,but 是對等連接詞。 Though 引導讓步子句,再搭配主句; but 則可以連接兩個對等子句。 另外,though 還能作句尾副詞,表示「不過」, but 不能直接照這種方式使用。
Though the journey was long, we enjoyed it.
(雖然這趟旅程很長,但我們仍然很享受。)
The journey was long, but we enjoyed it.
(這趟旅程很長,但我們仍然很享受。)