常用词汇a while和awhile用法辨析

1.a while (n.) 一段時間

用法為不定冠词+名词的结构，就是一段時間，可能长时间，可能很短的时间。常见的有for a while,after a while等

e.g.

I haven't seen him for quite a while.

我有好一阵子没有见到他了。

She'd been seeing the boy for a while, but didn't want her parents to find out.

她和这个男孩约会已有一段时间了，但不想让父母知道。

It took her a while to adjust to living alone.

她过了一段时间才适应独自生活。

We travelled around for a while and landed up in Seattle.

我们到处旅游了一段时间，最后抵达西雅图。

It will take a while for the drug to work out of your system.

这药得需要一段时间才能排出你的体外。

He has just set up his own business but it will take him a while to get established.

他刚建立起自己的公司，但要站稳脚跟还得花上一段时间。

For a while, she lost the use of her limbs.

好一会儿她四肢都动弹不得。

After a while, we naturally started talking about the children.

过了一会儿，我们自然而然地谈起了孩子。

After a while his eyes adjusted to the dark.

过了一会儿他的眼睛习惯了黑暗。

Let's sit in the shade for a while.

咱们在阴凉处坐一会儿吧。

It always takes the a while to settle down at the start of the lesson.

那个班一上课总得过一会儿才能安静下来。

The bad news sobered us for a while.

坏消息使我们冷静了一会儿。

It took him a while to accustom himself to the idea.

他过了一段时间才习惯这个想法。

They chattered away happily for a while.

他们高兴地闲扯了一会儿。We won't be seeing much of each other for a while.

我们会有一段时间不常见面。

After a while I led the conversation around to her job

过了一阵子，我把话题引到她的工作上。

You will need to slow down for a while

你需要放松一段时间。

It's a relief to get out of the office once in a while.

偶尔走出办公室去透透气也是一种调剂。

There is no reason why you couldn't live it up once in a while.

偶尔放纵一下也无妨。

He would push or slap her once in a while

他偶尔会推搡她或是打她的耳光。

2.awhile (adv.) 一段時間

作为副词可以单独使用。作副词在美国英语里只表示时间很短的片刻，一会儿

e.g.

She paused awhile before answering.她稍停了一会才回答。

Can’t you just wait awhile?

你不能等一会儿吗？

I'll stay awhile.我将要待一会儿。

Come and sit awhile with me.来陪我坐一会。

简单说就是： for a while= awhile

He worked awhile as a pharmacist in Cincinnati.

他有一段时间在辛辛那提当药剂师。（英国英语中常拼作a while)

Authorities had been looking for him for awhile and he finally turned himself in late last night.

一段时间来当局一直在搜寻他，直至昨天深夜他最终向警方自首。（awhile偶尔也作名词）

He fought with the urge to smoke one of the cigars he'd given up awhile ago

他努力克制自己的烟瘾，不去抽一支戒掉没多久的雪茄。