談話時突然想到另一件事為了轉(zhuǎn)變話題常用“By the way…”中文常譯為“順便一提…”．其實這應(yīng)該譯為“喔，對了……”．但“By the way…”是句子間的連接詞組，，比如“你回家的時候可以順便幫我買包香煙嗎？”這樣的句子就不能用了。
    “你回家的時候可以順便幫我買包香煙嗎？”中的“順便”其實是含有“方便”的意思．用英文說，就是conveniently, (while you are) in it, (do something in addition to what is already doing) without extra effort, incidentally…．實際上的詞組用詞可以用in passing, at your convenience, take this opportunity…甚至于不用任何詞組，而從整個句子的語氣上得來！
    例：
    I mention this point now in passing and shall refer to it again. 這一點現(xiàn)在先順便提一下，以后還會再提到．
    I take this opportunity to report to you about a matter.順便向各位報告一件事．
    On your way home, could you please get a pack of cigarettes for me, at your convenience? “你回家的時候可以順便幫我買包香煙嗎?”．
    甚至不用at your convenience，從語氣上on your way home就有“順便”的氣氛。I often look in at the bookstore on my way home from work.我下班回家，常（順便）到書店看看．
    When you go to the library, please return this book for me.你去圖書館的時候，（順便）把我這本書還了吧．（本句中When…for me就有“順便”的氣氛）。
    Please take this study material with you to the class.你把這份講義拿到班上去．（本句中When…with you就有“順便”的氣氛）。 youtheme.cn
    When you go shopping, please buy me a pair of small scissors.你去買東西的時候，（順便）替我買一把小剪刀．（本句中只用　　When…而不用其它任何詞組，從語氣上來看，就有“順便”的氣氛）。
    When my cousin came to Taipei on business, he stayed with me for two nights. 我表弟來臺北出差時，（順便）來我家住了兩晚．本句中只用When…而不用其它任何詞組，從語氣上來看，就有“順便”的氣氛。
    When you go to Kingstone Bookstore, please ask when this month’s issue of World Movie will be in.你去金石堂書店的時候，請（順便幫我）問一下新的一期“世界電影”雜志什么時候到。