到底是 was / were about to V when... 或 was / were about to V then...？

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Unit 11  was / were about to V when... 或 was / were about to V then...？

例 I was about to leave then it started to rain. (X)

→ I was about to leave when it started to rain. (O)

(我正要離開，這時便開始下雨了。)
此處 when 是連接詞，宜譯成「這時」，不宜譯成「當」。

理由：then 是副詞，表「當時、然後」，無法連接兩句。

例 I was busy then.  我當時很忙。
                       adv.

例 I finished all the work at 5 p.m., then I left. (X)
                                                        adv.
     → I finished all the work at 5 p.m., and then I left. (O)
                                                           連接詞
         (我在下午 5 點把所有工作都做完了，然後我就離開了。)

 

例 We were about to give up hope when the rescue team showed up.

= We were on the point of giving up hope when the rescue team showed up.

= As we were about to give up, the rescue team showed up.

(我們正要放棄希望時，救援小組就出現了。)

 

答案:  1. D

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