句子：The elements were opposed to them, a heavy rain falling the whole of the night and drenching them to the skin.
疑问：主要是a heavy rain falling the whole of the night这里.“a heavy rain falling”和“the whole of the night”是什么关系?中间怎么能不用介词,比如during,来连接呢?那“the whole of the night”在这里算个啥成分?能给我详细点说下这个,举些类似用法的句子吗?
the whole of night =作时间状语,意思一整个晚上,终夜；通宵；通夜
例如
She coughed the whole night.
她咳了一晚上.
the whole night
英 [ðə həul nait] 美 [ði hol naɪt]
终夜；通宵；通夜
1.The wolf clawed at the tree and howled the whole night.
这匹狼用爪子挠着树,嚎叫了整晚.
2. She had been up the whole night with rheumatic aches.
她因风湿痛整夜未眠.
3. She coughed the whole night.
她咳了一晚上.
4. They played cards the whole night through.
他们通宵打牌.
5. He slept the whole night through.
他睡了一整夜.