英语中有些名词结构可用作从属连词，用以引导状语从句，且主要是时间状语从句。这类结构归纳起来有以下六类：
一、the + 瞬间名词
其中的瞬间名词主要包括moment, minute, instant, second等，其意为“一……就……”，相当于as soon as。如：
The minute he saw her he fell in love.
他对她一见倾心。
I’ll telephone the minute there’s any change.
一有变更我立即用电话通知。
Telephone me the moment (that) you get the results.
你一有结果，马上给我打电话。
I was so tired that I fell asleep the instant I closed my eyes.
我很累，一合上眼就睡着了。
She put down the receiver the second she recognized my voice. 她一听出是我的声音，马上就放下电话听筒。
注：其中的瞬间名词后可接that，也可省略。另外，有的个别副词(如directly / immediately等)也可表示类似意思。如：Immediately the meal was over, he switched on the radio. 饭一吃完他就把收音机打开。
二、the + 季节名词
其中的季节名词包括spring, summer, autumn, winter，其意为“在……的那年春天、夏天、秋天、冬天。如：
His wife left him the spring he went abroad.
在他出国的那年春天，他的妻子离开了他。
He sold his house and went to the south the summer he lost his job.
在他失业的那年夏天，他卖掉房子去了南方。
He was sent to prison the winter his third daughter was born.
在他第三个女儿出生的那年冬天，他被关进了监狱。
She got married the autumn she graduated from college.
她大学毕业的那年秋天就结婚了。
三、the+时间名词
其中的时间名词主要包括hour, day, night, week, month, season, year等，其意为“在……的时候、那天、那个晚上、那周、那个月、那个季节、那年”。如：
The hour he was in her office, he felt very sad.
当他在她办公室的时候，他感到很伤心。
The day he returned home, his father was already dead.
他回家的那一天，他的父亲已经死了。
The night I went to see her, she had left for Beijing to attend an important meeting.
就我去看她的那个晚上，她到北京去开一个重要的会议了。
Mr Smith didn’t go to work the week his wife was ill.
史密斯先生在他妻子生病的那个星期没去上班。
The year he lived in the country, he learned a lot.
他在乡下呆的那一年，他学到了不少东西。
