介词短语作状语

介词短语作状语在英语句子中很常见。介词短语几乎可以表达所有形式的状语，包括时间、方式、地点、原因、条件、结果、目的等。此外还可以在句首修饰整条句子，或起到连接作用。

1) 表时间
Appropriate growth was seen in money supply in 2015. 货币供应量在2015年有适度增长。
During the winter holidays I stayed at my grandma's for over a week. 寒假期间我在外祖母家呆了一个多星期。
The battle lasted throughout the night. 战斗持续了整整一个晚上。
The two kids are eager to see their gifts on Christmas Eve. 圣诞前夕两个小孩迫切希望见到自己的礼物。

2) 表地点、方位
There was a garage at the back. 后边有一个车库。
They all sit in the middle of the room. 他们都坐在房子中间。
Don't leave that bread on the table. 别把面包放在桌子上。

3) 表原因
During the war, many people died of famine. 战争中许多人死于饥荒。
For this reason, he is not the best man for the project. 由于这个原因，他并不是这个项目最合适的人选。
Production has come to a halt this month, owing to the lack of workers. 由于缺少工人，这个月生产已陷入停顿。

4) 表方式
It is more economical to go there by train. 坐火车去那里更经济一些。
I know that you will all play your part with courage. 我知道你们都会勇敢地各尽其责。

5) 表程度
Everything is being done to meet in full the needs of the people. 正在采取一切措施充分满足人民的需要。
The girl has been frightened to death. 那个小女孩被吓死了。
Our endurance was tested to the utmost. 我们的忍耐已达极限。

6) 表条件
The police refused to act without more evidence. 如果没有更多的证据，警方拒绝受理。
But for the sun’s light and heat, life would be impossible on the earth. 要是没有太阳的光和热，地球上就不可能有生命。

7) 表结果、目的
As a result, out production has increased by 30% this year. 结果，今年我们的产量提升了30%。
We left an hour early for fear of missing the train. 我们提前1小时动身以免误了火车。

8) 放于句首修饰整条句子
In my opinion, we must cut our budget in half. 我认为我们应该让预算减半。
In brief, your paper doesn’t focus on the topic. 简言之，你的论文没有集中反映主题。

9) 起连接作用
We need money and time. In addition, we need more trained workers. 我们需要钱和时间，此外我们还需要受过训练的工人。
This is not typically a linear process. In particular, steps 3-5 may be swapped around. 这并不一定是线性过程。尤其是第3至5步可以交换顺序。