'because' 和 'so' 有什么区别？

because 引出原因：'I stayed home because I was ill.' so 引出结果：'I was ill, so I stayed home.' 两句说的是同一件事。你选哪个词，就是想先强调哪个想法。

可以说 'Although it was late, but we continued' 吗？

不可以。although 和 but 都表示转折，所以只能用一个。说 'Although it was late, we continued' 或 'It was late, but we continued'。两个一起用是常见错误，会让句子显得累赘。

两者意思相同，后面接名词或 -ing 形式，不接完整从句。'Despite the rain, we played.' 'Despite being tired, she finished.' 如果要接从句，就用 although：'Although it rained, we played.'

连接词告诉读者两个想法之间的关系：一个导致另一个，一个与另一个形成对比，或者一个补充另一个。选错连接词，拼写全对，意思也可能整个反过来。

这一课建立在纠正主谓一致之上，同属用语法把意思说清楚，也与文章与评论中的段落构建紧密相关。

先判断关系是什么，再选合适的词，并检查它周围的语法。

关系	连接词	句型	例句
原因	because, since	主句 + because + 从句	We moved inside because it rained.
结果	so, therefore	从句, so + 从句	It rained, so we moved inside.
转折，同一句内	although, even though	Although + 从句, 主句	Although it rained, we played.
转折，后接名词	despite, in spite of	Despite + 名词, 从句	Despite the rain, we played.
转折，另起一句	however	句子。However, 句子。	It rained. However, we played.
转折，对等	but, yet	从句, but + 从句	It rained, but we played.

标点： 以 although 开头的从句放在前面时，后面加逗号；however 开头一个句子时，后面也加逗号。不要只用逗号连接两个完整的句子。

合并这两个句子并表示转折：The bus was late. We reached school on time.

第一步，找出关系。 第二个事实出乎第一个事实的预期，所以关系是转折。

第二步，选句型。 两边各有一个从句，although 合适：Although + 从句, 主句。

第三步，造句。 Although the bus was late, we reached school on time.

第四步，检查只用了一个转折词。 句子里有 although，没有 but。

第五步，试第二个版本。 The bus was late, but we reached school on time. 两个都对。第一个更强调准时到达；第二个把两个事实看得同样重。

常见的失误，是选了把原因和结果弄反的连接词。

错误句子： The road was wet, because the driver slowed down.

读者会以为是司机减速才使路面变湿。

改正： The driver slowed down because the road was wet. 问哪件事是原因。原因跟在 because 后面。如果想从路面讲起，就写：The road was wet, so the driver slowed down.

另一个失误是 despite 后面接完整从句：Despite it was raining 是错的。要用 Despite the rain 或 Although it was raining。

先试做，再打开答案。

1. 选连接词：She practised every day, ___ she still felt nervous before the concert. (so / because / yet)

查看答案

yet。 第二个想法与预期相反。“so” 和 “because” 表示因果。

2. 改错：Despite he was tired, he finished the report.

查看答案

Despite being tired, he finished the report. 或 Although he was tired, he finished the report. despite 需要接名词或 -ing 形式。

3. 用因果关系合并：The match was cancelled. The field was flooded.

查看答案

The match was cancelled because the field was flooded. 另一个正确的写法：The field was flooded, so the match was cancelled.

接下来学习用情态动词区分确定与可能，它会增加你对每个连接有多大把握的表达。然后做语法综合练习题组。写作修订对比视图可以让你比较同一段落的两个版本，看哪个连接读起来更清楚。

当两个连接词在语法上都对、但其中一个更清楚时，老师也能帮你选，就像在英语（第二语言）线上一对一补习中那样。