Whereas 是从属连词，顾名思义，它引导一个从句，修饰主句，用来比较或对比两个事实，意为“然而，但是，尽管”，此时它的用法跟 although 或 while 的用法一样。 一、Whereas 作连词 Whereas 作连词时，一般引导让步状语从句，当置于句首时，需要用逗号与主句隔开，例如： He loves foreign holidays, whereas his wife prefers to stay at home.他喜欢在国外度假，但是他的妻子则喜欢呆在家里。 All of my sisters are doctors, whereas I am a teacher.我的姐妹都是医生，而我是老师。 Both of my parents went to college, whereas I only finished high school.我父母都上过大学，而我只完成了高中学业。 Whereas I am a vegetarian, my whole family eats meat.我们全家都吃肉，而我是素食主义者。 Whereas I am a world traveler, brother hates flying.哥哥讨厌坐飞机，而我是一个世界旅行者。 My husband is allergic to dogs, whereas I'm a dog lover.我丈夫对狗过敏，而我是个爱狗的人。
二、whereas 和 while 1. 当 whereas 和 while 都引导让步状语从句时，用法是一样的，例如： The south has a hot, dry climate, whereas/while the north has a milder, wetter climate.南方气候炎热干燥，而北方气候温和湿润。 Whereas/while most new PCs have several USB slots, older ones often only had one.大多数新电脑都有几个USB插槽，而旧电脑通常只有一个。 2. while 主要引导时间状语从句，此时的 while 不能用 whereas 代替，例如： 我不在办公室时，秘书负责我的约会。The secretary took care of my appointments while I was away from the office. (正确)The secretary took care of my appointments whereas I was away from the office. (错误) 三、 习题 1. 请用 while 或 whereas 完成下列的句子 a. Dad would like to have a holiday in Spain _____ Mom would prefer Italy. b. In India, August is quite a cool month _____ it can be quite scorching in Chicago. c. My secretary will answer my phone calls _____ I’m away abroad. d. He choked _____ he was eating and then had to be taken to hospital for an X-ray. 2. 答案、参考翻译及解析 a. whereas 爸爸想去西班牙度假，而妈妈想去意大利。 b. whereas 在印度，八月是一个相当凉爽的月份，而芝加哥则是一个相当炎热的月份。 c. while 我在国外的时候，我的秘书会接我的电话。 d. while 他在吃东西时噎住了，然后被送到医院做X光检查。
