[NMET2001,28] It is generally believed that teaching is ______ it is a science.

　　A. an art much as

　　B. much an art as

　　C. as an art much as

　　D.as much an art as

　　所给答案为D。

　　然而重庆的周树莹老师在《英语辅导报》高中教师版2002-2003学年度第32期和2003-2004学年度第7期的两篇文章中均认为答案A也可以。只不过D是"最佳答案",A也是"正确答案"。也就是说:

　　It is generally believed that teaching is an art much as it is a science。句中的"much as..."或"as much as"引导的是"让步状语从句",表示"尽管......,虽然......"。

　　我们姑且认为周老师的说法有理。那么much as引导的让步状语从句有什么特点呢?请看much as引导的让步状语从句。

　　1.英语语法系列9《连词》(Sylvia Chalker)中译本(外文出版社) P.33:much as把although和very much这两种意义结合在一起:

　　Much as he longs for our marriage, he's completely absorbed in the making of maps。( Much as he longs for our marriage...等Although he longs very much for our marriage... )虽然他非常渴望我们结婚,不过,现在却一心埋头于地图的制作。

　　2.《英语分类句型》(雷馨编)(商务版)P.360和《新编英语语法》(修订本)(章振邦主编)下册P.1179:

　　Much as we admire shakespear's comedies, we cannot agree that they are superior to the tragedies。尽管我们非常喜爱莎士比亚的喜剧,但我们不能同意说他的悲剧就不如他的喜剧好。

　　3.《新英汉词典》(增补本)(葛传椝主编) P.844: much as...。虽然......

　　Much as I should like to go, I can't right now.我虽然很想去,但现在还不能去。

　　4.《提纲挈领学英语》(潘继福编著,中国科技大学版)P.460:

　　Much I admire him as a writer, I do not like him as a man.他作为作家,我很钦佩,但对他的为人我并不喜欢。

　　5.《新编英语语法》(修订本)(章振邦主编)下册P.1179:

　　Much as I should like to see you, I am afraid you may find it inconvenient to come in this hot weather.

　　6.《英语句子辞典》(王福祯主编)

　　P.675:有时as much as引导让步句,这样同时也可用much as代替。

　　As much as I hate to do it, I must stay at home and study tonight.尽管我不愿意,我今晚还得呆在家中学习。

　　As much as I should like to see you, I am afraid you couldn't come.我尽管很想见到你,但恐怕你不能来。

　　As much as she hated crulty,she couldn't help watching the fight.虽然她对暴行极为憎恨,但她忍不住注视着这场斗殴。

　　7.《现代英语用法词典》(张道真编著)P.895: as much as ...)尽管......(也可用much as) much as...尽管......

　　we cannot come,much as we would like to.

　　Much as I would like to go, I can't.

　　Much as I should like to go, I can't.

　　8.《外研社建宏英汉多功能词典》P.972:

　　Much as I like her, I won't marry her。我虽然喜欢她,然而并不打算和她结婚。

　　9.《朗文当代英汉双解词典》第一版(1988) P.915:

　　Much as / although I greatly虽然我极......Much as she hated crulty,she couldn't help watching the fight.虽然她极讨厌残暴的事,她还是忍不住看这打斗。

　　10.《朗文当代英语高级辞典》(英英·英汉双解1998年第1版)P.991:

　　Much as I like her (=Although I like her a lot), I wouldn't like to be married to her.虽然我挺喜欢她,但我不愿意和她结婚。

　　通过以上例句我们可以看出much as引导的让步状语从句有以下特点:

　　①much as相当于although,意思是"虽然,尽管"。

　　②much as引导的让步状语从句通常在主句之前,当然也可在主句之后。

　　③much as引导的让步状语从句和主句之间通常用逗号隔开。(笔者注:不知是巧合,还是必须如此。以上例句无一例外从句和主句之间都用逗号隔开)。

　　④含有much as引导的让步状语从句的复合句汉语翻译为"虽然(尽管)......,但是(可是,却,而)......"。

　　[笔者注:这一点相当于汉语中的"转折关系"的复句。请看例证:《现代汉语词典》(修订本)P.1208:虽然,连词,用在上半句,下半句往往有"可是、但是"等跟它呼应,表示承认甲事为事实,但乙事并不因为甲事而成立。《现代汉语》(增订版)(黄伯荣主编)下册P.159:转折关系:前后分句的意思相反或相对,即后头的分句不是顺着前头分句的意思写下来,而是转了一个弯。转折关系常用的关联词有"虽然(尽管)A,但是(可是,却,而)B。这种复句又叫让步转折句。]

　　(文/李翔董维堂英语辅导报高中教师版03~04学年度第27期；版权归英语辅导报社所有，独家网络合作伙伴新浪教育，未经许可，不得以任何形式进行转载。)