【问】 He walks when he might take a taxi.句中的when是什么意思?

【答】 这里的when兼有时间和让步(although)的含义。根据上下文可采用不同的译法：

A.虽然……却(但是)，尽管……但

1. Bob always goes a long way when he might take a short cut.

鲍勃虽有近路可走，却总走远路。

2. He walks when he might take a taxi.

他虽然可以乘出租车，却总是步行。

3. They have only three copies when we need five.

尽管我们需要五本，但他们只有三本。

4. You describe this policy as rigid and inflexible，when in fact it has been extremely flexi-ble. (EED)

你把这项政策说成是僵硬而毫无灵活性的，而事实上它是极其灵活的。

B.本(应该，可以)……却(when分句使用虚拟语气)：

1. She paid when she could have entered free. (CGEL)

她本来可以免费入场，而她却付了款。

2. She stopped trying when she might have succeeded next time. (LDCE)

她本来下次有可能获得成功，而她却不再尝试了。

3. They were gossiping，when they should have been working. (CGEL)

他们本该工作，却在那里说别人的闲话。

4. She cleans the house by herself，when she could easily have asked her children to helpher. (CGEL)

她本可以很容易地让孩子来帮忙，却还是亲自动手清理房间。