although與 though的同與異

1. 用作連詞，表示“雖然”，兩者大致同義，可換用，只是 although 比 though 更為正式。如：

Though [Although] they’re expensive, people buy them. 雖然它們很昂貴，人們還是買。

2. although 一般不用作副詞，而 though 可用作副詞，表示“可是”“不過”。如：

I expect you’re right—I’ll ask him, though. 我認為你說得對——我去問問他也好。

She promised to phone. I heard nothing, though. 她答應要打電話來. 可我沒聽到回信兒。

這樣用的though通常位于句末，但有時位于句首的though也有這樣的意思。如：

他說他要付錢，然而我認為他不會付的。

正：He says he’ll pay, though I don’t think he will.

正：He says he’ll pay; I don’t think he will, though.

3. 在 as though（好像，仿佛），even though（即使，縱然）等固定短語中，不能用 although代替though。如：

She treats me as though I were a stranger. 她待我仿佛我是一個陌生人。

He’s the best teacher even though he has the least experience. 他盡管經驗最少，但教得最好。

4. 兩者均可用于省略句，通常見于主句與從句主語相同，且從句謂語含有動詞be的情形。如：

Although [Though] (it was) built before the war, the engine is still in perfect order. 盡管是戰前制造的，這臺發動機仍然處于良好狀態。

Although [Though] (he is) still young he is going very grey. 盡管他還年輕他的頭發卻已變得灰白。

Although [Though] (she was) in pain, she bravely blinked back her tears. 她雖然很疼痛，但還是硬把眼淚抑制住了。

5. 當though用于倒裝形式，它不能換成although，但可換成as。

Successful though [as] he is, he is not proud. 他雖然成功，但不驕傲。

Much though [as] I like you, I couldn’t live with you. 我盡管很喜歡你, 卻不能和你在一起生活。

Try though [as] I would, I could not make her change her mind. 不管我多努力，也不能讓她改變主意。

Surrounded though [as] we were by the enemy, we managed to march forward. 雖然我們被敵人包圍著，但我們還是設法前進了。

Raining hard though [as] it is, I’m going out for a walk. 雖然正在下著大雨，我還是要出去散步。

注意，若倒裝后置于句首的是名詞時，其前習慣上不用冠詞或其他限定詞。如：

Expert though [as] he was, he failed. 他雖是專家，但還是失敗了。

Big puzzle though [as] it was, it hadn’t got the better of Jim. 雖然是個大難題，但仍沒有難倒吉姆。

6. 不要按漢語“雖然……但是……”的表達習慣，在 although 后連用 but。如：

雖然他只是個業余愛好者，但卻是一流的高手。

誤：Although he’s only an amateur, but he’s a first-class player.

正：Although he’s only an amateur, he’s a first-class player.

但是在強調時，although 可與 yet, still 等副詞連用。如：

Though he seems happy, yet he is worried. 雖然他看起來很幸福，但他實際上很煩惱。

值得一提的是，在某些特定的語境中，although 與 but 連用的句子是可能的（注：but 引出的句子在 although 從句之前）。如：

But I didn’t know that then, although I learned it later. 但我當時的確不知道此事，盡管后來還是知道了。

He wanted to go abroad, but although he had some money he couldn’t afford it. 他想出國，盡管他有些錢，但還是負擔不起。