定语从句是中学语法中的重点和难点,也是各类考试的考查热点。。为了便于同学们全面准确地掌握其用法,下面就几个学习定语从句要注意的几点作一讲析。
一、 定语从句中的只能用that不用which 的情况
在定语从句的学习中,关系代词的用法极为重要,除了一般情况外,还有一些时候定语从句中的关系代词只能用that,不能用which,常见的有如下几种情况:
1. 被修饰的先行词为不定代词,如all, something, everything, anything, nothing, none, the one等。如:
We should do all that is useful to the people. 我们应该做一切有利于人民的事。
2. 先行词被only, any, few, little, no, one of, just等词修饰时。如:
That's the very word that is wrongly used. 那就是被用错的词。
3. 先行词是最高级或被最高级修饰时。如:
It was the largest map that I ever saw. 那是我所见过的最大的地图。
4. 先行词既有人又有物时,关系代词应用that。如:
The writer and his novel that you have just talked about are really well-known. 你刚谈起的那位作家及他的小说确实很著名。
5. 主句是以who或which开头的疑问句时。如:
Who is the man that is speaking over there? 正在那边讲话的人是谁?
二、关系副词引导定语从句
定语从句中最常见的关系副词有: where, when 和 why 等。关系副词一方面代表主句中的某个名词或代词,另一方面还在从句中作状语,表示从句中动词所表示动作或状态的地点、时间、原因等。例如:
We then moved to Paris, where we lived for six years. 我们后来搬到巴黎,在那里住了六年。
I cannot tell you the time when he will come. 我无法告诉你他来的时间。
Do you know the reason why it is wrong? 你知道出错的原因吗?
注意:在表示方式的词语,以及方向、距离、速度、倍数等的词语后,常可用 that 作关系副词:
The way that (=in which) he did it was strange and funny. 他做那件事的方式既奇特又滑稽。
The manner that (=in which) he spoke was rough. 他说话粗鲁。
三、关系代词与关系副词的取舍问题:
判断一个定语从句应由关系代词来引导,还是由关系副词来引导,是中国学生的一个难点,特别是当先行词为表示时间、地点、原因等内容的词语时,更容易出现错误。关系副词与关系代词的选择,取决于其在从句中的作用。同为一个先行词,定语从句有时要由关系代词来引导,有时要由关系副词来引导。例如:
(1)What's the name of the town where we stayed last?
(2)What's the name of the town that/which we visited last?
上面(1)中用的是关系副词 where,在从句中作动词 stayed 的地点状语;而例(2)中则用关系代词 that 或 which,在从句中作动词 visited 的宾语。试比较:
I'll never forget the days when we worked together.
I'll never forget the days (that) we spent together.
四、掌握定语从句中的主谓一致。
这是指当先行词在从句中作主语时,从句的谓语必须在数上与之保持一致。
The girl has put all the pictures in a box, which look pretty.(先行词pictures是复数,在从句中作主语,故从句的谓语用复数形式。)
He is the only one of the doctors in the hospital who has two cars.( 在"one of +名词"结构中,通常名词是先行词;但在one前加the only,则one是先行词,故句子谓语用has。)
五、找准定语从句中的先行词。
定语从句必须有先行词,否则就不是定语从句。
误:Is this farm we visited last week?
该句中定语从句就缺少先行词,将句子还原为陈述句:This farm is ________ we visited last week.显然应加上the one作先行词。
正:Is this farm the one we visited last week?
当然,这句话改为下面这种形式也是正确的:
Is this the farm we visited last week?
六、注意as引导的定语从句。
在中学英语中,as引导的定语从句必须掌握以下两个要点:
1. 用在the same... as和such... as结构中,as作主语或宾语。
I have the same mobile phone as you (have). (as作宾语)
He is such a kind man as often helps others.(as作主语)
同时,要区分such... as与such... that...的用法,在such... that... 结构中,that引导状语从句,且在从句中不作成分。
He is such a kind man that all of us like him. (从句主、宾语不缺,故用that,不用as。)
2. as引导非限制性定语从句,通常先行词为整个句子,它引导的定语从句可位于主句之前,也可位于主句之后(此时可用which代替)。
As is known to us all, Taiwan is part of China. =Taiwan is part of China, as / which is known to us all.