一、通常的情况
汉语中可说“虽然…但是…”,但按英语习惯,通常不能说although…but或though…but:
虽然很危险,但我要试试。
误:Although it is dangerous, but I will try.
正:Although it is dangerous, I will try. / It is dangerous, but I will try.
不能将汉语的“虽然…但是…”直译为(al)though…but…,这是因为 (al)though 为从属连词,用于引导让步状语从句;而but在表示“但是”时,它是并列连词,用以连接两个句子使之成为并列句。由于在同一句中既用了从属连词(al)though,又用了并列连词 but,使得句子一半像复合句,一半像并列句,从而导致错误。正确的做法是,任意去掉 (al)though 和 but 中的一个,使之要么成为复合句,要么成为并列句。
二、特殊情况
如果就此认为although 永远不与but连用, 那也是错误的,请看两例:
(1) But I didn’t know that then, although I learned it later. 但我当时的确不知道此事,尽管后来我还是知道了。
此句既用了并列连词 but,又用了从属连词 although,但它并未造成错误,原因是此句与上面所讨论的情形有所不同,即此句 but 用于 although 之前,but 在此仅起到与上文转折的作用,but 后的 I didn’t know that then, although I learned it later.仍为一个复合句。
(2) I tried doing the accounts, but although I knew some maths I found it very difficult. 我试着算这些账,但尽管我懂点数学,仍感到很困难。
此句将 but 与 although 用在一起,但此句也没有错误。该句从总体来看,它是一个以并列连词 but 连接的并列句,而在该并列句的后面一句又是一个包含让步状语从句 although I knew some maths 的复合句——这种句型就是所谓的并列复合句。此句也可改写为 I tried doing the accounts, but I found it very difficult although I knew some maths.