for表示原因時的四個“不能”
1. for引導的從句不能位于它所解釋的動詞之前:
Because it was wet he took a taxi. 因為下雨,他叫了一輛出租車。(這里不能用for)
2. for引導的從句不能位于not, but或任何連詞之后:
He stole, not because he wanted the money but because he liked stealing. 他偷東西,并不是因為他想要錢,而是他有這種毛病。(這里不能用for)
3. for引導的從句不能用于回答問題:
—Why did you do it? 你為什么這么做?
—I did it because l was angry. 因為我生氣才這么做的。(這里不能用for)
4. for引導的從句不能單單用來復述已講過的話,而必須包括新的內(nèi)容(www.yingyuyufa.com):
He spoke in French. She was angry because he had spoken in French. 他講法語。因為他講法語,她生氣了。(這里不能用for)
但是說:
She was angry, for she didn't know French. 她生氣了,因為她不懂法語。(這里用for是正確的,也可用because)
之所以有這些用法上的限定,其理由是for引導的從句不能直接說明某一特定動作發(fā)生的原因,而只能提供一些起幫助解釋作用的附加說明。例如:
The days were short, for it was now December. 天短了,現(xiàn)在已是12月了。
He took the food eagerly, for he has eaten nothing since dawn. 他狼吞虎咽地吃了起來,因為他從天亮就沒吃過東西。
When I saw her in the river I was frightened. For at that point the currents were dangerous. 我看見她在河里時,嚇壞了。那個地方水流非常危險。
在口語中,for從句前常稍停一下。在筆語中,在此處常有一個逗號。有時也用一個句號斷開,如最后一個例子所示。上面三個例句中也可用becatse, 但用for更好些。