英語中有些名詞結構可用作從屬連詞，用以引導狀語從句，且主要是時間狀語從句。這類結構歸納起來有以下六類：

一、the + 瞬間名詞

其中的瞬間名詞主要包括moment, minute, instant, second等，其意為“一……就……”，相當于as soon as。如：

The minute he saw her he fell in love.

他對她一見傾心。

I’ll telephone the minute there’s any change.

一有變更我立即用電話通知。

Telephone me the moment (that) you get the results.

你一有結果，馬上給我打電話。

I was so tired that I fell asleep the instant I closed my eyes.

我很累，一合上眼就睡著了。

She put down the receiver the second she recognized my voice. 她一聽出是我的聲音，馬上就放下電話聽筒。

注：其中的瞬間名詞后可接that，也可省略。另外，有的個別副詞(如directly / immediately等)也可表示類似意思。如：Immediately the meal was over, he switched on the radio. 飯一吃完他就把收音機打開。

二、the + 季節名詞

其中的季節名詞包括spring, summer, autumn, winter，其意為“在……的那年春天、夏天、秋天、冬天。如：

His wife left him the spring he went abroad.

在他出國的那年春天，他的妻子離開了他。

He sold his house and went to the south the summer he lost his job.

在他失業的那年夏天，他賣掉房子去了南方。

He was sent to prison the winter his third daughter was born.

在他第三個女兒出生的那年冬天，他被關進了監獄。

She got married the autumn she graduated from college.

她大學畢業的那年秋天就結婚了。

三、the+時間名詞

其中的時間名詞主要包括hour, day, night, week, month, season, year等，其意為“在……的時候、那天、那個晚上、那周、那個月、那個季節、那年”。如：

The hour he was in her office, he felt very sad.

當他在她辦公室的時候，他感到很傷心。

The day he returned home, his father was already dead.

他回家的那一天，他的父親已經死了。

The night I went to see her, she had left for Beijing to attend an important meeting.

就我去看她的那個晚上，她到北京去開一個重要的會議了。

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個星期沒去上班。

The year he lived in the country, he learned a lot.

他在鄉下呆的那一年，他學到了不少東西。