一、基本用法
1. (表否定)没有,无,不需。如:
The letter was posted without a stamp. 那封信没贴邮票就寄出去了。
2. (用在no, not, never等否定副词之后,强调肯定)没有……不,没有……则不能……,每……必定……。如:
You can’t get rich without taking risks. 人不冒险不富。
3. (与-ing形式连用)不,无,没。如:
She entered the room without knocking. 她没敲门就进了房间。
4. (表条件)若无,若非。如:
I don’t like to go to a country without knowing something of the language. 我要是不懂得一点那个国家的语言,就不想到那个国家去。
二、作表语的用法
without引出的介词短语通常用作状语,但有时也可用作表语。如:
She is completely without shame. 她恬不知耻。
My investigations were without result. 我的调查毫无结果。
三、后接复合宾语的用法
without后接复合宾语的常用结构如下:
1. without+宾语+副词
I’d be lost without you here. 没有你在这儿,我会一筹莫展。
2. without+宾语+介词短语
We’d be better off without them as neighbors. 要是没有这些邻居,我们就过得更愉快了。
3. without+宾语+动名词
Without anyone noticing, he slipped through the window. 无人注意,他从窗户溜了出去。
4. without+宾语+不定式
Without anyone to help, how can we go>
It was boring to sit there without anything to do. 无所事事地坐在那里太无聊了。
5. without+宾语+过去分词
Without another word exchanged, they started off. 没有再交谈一句,他们就出发了。