What different grammatical uses exist for 而 in classical chinese? The question itself is already sufficient in description. Whose brilliant brain had the idea to coerce this nonsensical additional commentary text on us?
[conj.] (almost=while) a conj. with slight sense of transition/suppose, can be translated into: and;furthermore;moreover;but also;into the bargain;if;in case;however.


&lt;连>

从古沿用下来的连词,可连接词、短语和分句,表示多种关系 [and;furthermore;moreover;but also;into the bargain;if;in case;however]



(1)
(listing)
表示并列关系


永州之野产异蛇,黑质而白章。—— 唐· 柳宗元《捕蛇者说》

Wilderness of Eishu(Yongzhou) produces peculiar snakes, whose skin black and texture white.



(2)
(progressing)
表示递进关系


君子博学而日参省乎己。——《荀子·劝学》

Kunshi (Junzi) (a noble one) broadly studies and furthermore daily introspect into himself. 



(3)
(a slight casual relationship)
表示承接关系


余方心动欲还,而大声发于水上。——宋· 苏轼《石钟山记》

I was just hesitating to go home, when great sound generates from the waters.



(4)
(slight transition)
表示转折关系


青,取之于蓝,而青于蓝。——《荀子·劝学》

Ao (qin) is taken from Ai (lan), yet bluer/darker than Ai(lan).



(5)
(surmise)
表示假设关系


诸君而(如果)有意;瞻余马首可也。——清· 徐珂《清稗类钞·战事类》

You fellows if interested, up-look into my horse's head's orientation.



(6)(modification, similar to suffix -ly in English)
表示修饰关系,连接状语


吾恂恂而起。——唐· 柳宗元《捕蛇者说》 

I uneasily got up.


[pron.] you,your; this


〈代〉



(1) 你;你的 [you;your]


余知而无罪也。——《左传·昭公二十年》

I know you are innocent.



(2) 这样,此 [this]


同是被逼迫,君而妾亦然。——《玉台新咏·古诗为焦仲卿妻作》

Same enforced, you being so and I also being.


[aux.]


〈助〉



(1)
(modification, "as to the extent")
表示偏正关系,相当于“之”,“的” [of]


虞之与虢,相恃而势。——《淮南子·人间》

Go(yu, ancient country) treating Kaku(guo, ancient country), take reciprocal reliance as the situation.



(2)
(comparison, though sometimes the same positioning can be case 1.6)
与“上”、“下”、“前”、“后”、“来”、“往”连用,相当于“以”


形而上者谓之道,形而下者谓之器。——《易·系辞上》

Up to entity is called Tao, down to entity called mechanism.


[mod.]


&lt;语气>



(1)
(negative question)
用于句中,表示反问,相当于“难道”,“岂” [how could;how is it possible]


为仁由己,而由人乎哉?——《论语·颜渊》

To practice kindness is out of oneself, how could it be out of others? 



(2)
(exclamation)
用于句末,相当于“耳”,“哪”


已而已而,今之从政者殆而。——《论语·微子》

Finished already, finished already, today's politicians are stupid as such!

Ref:ZDIC