解读限制性定语从句中的关系代词
2016-04-11安徽省怀远第一中学王玉峰
安徽省怀远第一中学 王玉峰
解读限制性定语从句中的关系代词
安徽省怀远第一中学王玉峰
请同学们先看下面教材里的典型句子,认真体会斜体部分的用法:
1.A huge crack that was eight kilometres long and thirty metres wide cut across houses,roads and canals.(人教课标版教材模块一Unit4 P26)
2.The story was about a god who wanted to burn down the town.(北师大版教材模块一Unit3 Lesson1 P36)
以上从课本中选取的句子中,斜体部分的that和who是引导定语从句的关系代词,在所引导的定语从句中作主语。引导定语从句的连词称之为关系词,它代表先行词,根据关系词在句子中所起的作用又分为关系代词和关系副词。通常关系代词在所引导的定语从句中作主语、宾语、表语、定语等成分,常用的关系代词有that,which,who,whom,whose等;关系副词在所引导的定语从句中作状语,常用的关系副词有where,when,why。下面就从限制性定语从句解读引导定语从句的关系代词。
一、that,which
(一)一般情况下,先行词指物时that/which都可以用。如:
Do you understand the sentence which/that I have just explained to you?
你们懂不懂我刚才给你们讲的那个句子?
She takes a look at the dog that can talk,then walks into the bedroom.
她看了看那条会说话的狗,然后走进卧室。
【例】Finally he reached a lonely island__________was completely cut off from the outside world.
A.whenB.whereC.whichD.whom
【答案】C
(二)但是下列情况下用that。
1.先行词被形容词最高级、被序数词the last/the first/the second等、被形容词the only(唯一的)/the very(正是)、被all/no/few/little/any等修饰时,用that;在从句中作表语时用that。如:
The first lesson that I learned will never be forgotten.我上的第一节课将永远不会忘记。
This is the very book that I lost yesterday.这就是我昨天弄丢的那本书。
This is the only example that I know.我知道的例子只有这一个。
Be very careful about any offers that involve your coming to a meeting or having someone visit your house.
如果有人以赠送礼物为由要求你前去赴会,或提出登门拜访时,应当高度警惕。
【例】China is no longer the country_______she used to be.
【答案与解析】that。根据be动词看出关系代词that在所引导的定语从句中作表语,用that。句意:中国不再是过去那样的国家了。
2.先行词本身是指物的不定代词everything/nothing/all/much/little/few/something等,其中something也可以用which,不过以that最常见。如:
All that glitters is not gold.闪闪发光者并非都是金子。
Everything that happens has a cause and an effect.一切事情的发生均有其因果。
【例】There's nothing_______stops you from going to bed if you want to.
【答案与解析】that。定语从句的先行词是指物不定代词nothing,用that。句意:如果你想去睡觉,没有什么事能阻止你去睡(或你尽管睡去)。
3.先行词是指人和指物的两个名词或代词时。如:
My father often tells me the things and persons that he met in the past.
父亲常常跟我讲起他过去所经历的人和事。
【例】During the adventure,he met a series of things and persons_______surprised him.
【答案与解析】that。先行词things and persons指物和人,关系代词who和which只能指代其一,用that既可以指物,也可以指人。句意:在冒险期间,他遇到了一系列让他吃惊的人和事。
4.在which引起的特殊疑问句中,为了避免重复用that引导定语从句,取代which。如:
Which is the course that we are to take?我们选哪门课程?
二、who,whom
(一)who在所引导的定语从句中作主语,在非正式文体中可以代替作宾语的关系代词whom。whom在所引导的定语从句中作宾语,如果是“介词+关系代词”结构则只可以用whom,不可以用who。
She is the girl whom/who/that I have come to know at the club.她是我在俱乐部认识的女孩。(关系代词whom作定语从句的谓语动词know的宾语,口语中可以用who或that,也可以省掉)
The girl who has been wanted for several years by the police was a nurse.
警方追缉了几年的女子原来是个护士。(who在所引导的定语从句中作主语,既不可以省略,也不可以用whom代替)
He was suddenly grateful for someone to whom he could talk about it.对能叫他说说这件事的人,他突然感到非常感激。(在“介词+关系代词”结构中,关系代词不可以用who或that)
【例】In the dark street,there wasn't a single person to_______she could turn for help.
【答案与解析】whom。题中包含短语“turn to sb.for help”,意思是“向某人求助”。本句可以转换成:In the dark street,there wasn't a single person(whom/who/that)she could turn to for help.属于“介词+关系代词”结构。句意:在漆黑的大街上,连一个她可以求助的人都没有。
(二)在下列情况下用who而不用whom:(1)先行词是one/ones/those/anyone等人称不定代词时;(2)当先行词是I/you/he/they等,主要用于谚语中;(3)there be结构中。如:
God helps those who help themselves.自助者天助。
He who laughs best laughs last.谁笑在最后,谁笑得最好(别高兴得太早)
They who live in glass houses should not throw stones.自己有缺点,就别说别人的坏话。
【例】 Happiness and success often come to those_______are good at recognizing their own strengths.
A.whom B.who C.what D.which
【答案】 B
三、who,that
(一)that与who均可指人,有时可互换。如:
All that/who heard him were delighted.所有听了他讲话的人都很高兴。
Have you met anybody that/who has been to Paris?你遇见过去过巴黎的人吗?
He is the only one among us that/who knows Russian.他是我们中间唯一懂俄语的人。
(二)在下列情况,通常要用that:1.当先行词是who时(为避免重复);2.当关系代词在定语从句中作表语时(可省略);3.当先行词是一个既指人又指物的并列词组时。但是在分割性定语从句中,由于先行词后面有较长的修饰语或其他成分隔开,当先行词指人时,为了避免歧义用who。如:
Who that has sympathy can laugh on that occasion?
有同情心的人谁会在那个时候发笑呢?
Tom is not the boy(that)he was.汤姆这孩子已不是以前那个样子了。
I made a speech on the men and things that I had seen abroad.
我就我在国外所见到的人和事做了报告。
I was the only person in my office who was invited to the palace ball.
我是我们办公室里唯一一个被邀请参加宫廷舞会的人。(定语从句的先行词是person,who引导的定语从句被in my office隔开,如果用that则可能会误以为office是先行词)
四、whose
不管先行词是“人”还是“物”,都可以用关系代词whose作定语修饰后面的名词,指代“……人的”或“……物的”,其本身在定语从句中作定语。相当于“介词+关系代词”中的of whom或of which。如:
This book is for the students whose native language is not English.
这本书是为那些母语不是英语的学生编写的。(whose native language=the native language of whom)
Do you know who is living in that house whose windows face south?
你知道那栋窗户朝南的房子里住的是谁吗?(whose windows=the window of which)