语法之定语从句
定语可以由形容词、名词、代词、数词、分词(现在分词或过去分词)、副词、不定式(短语)以及介词短语等来充当,也可以由一个句子来充当。充当定语功能的句子称为定语从句。
定语从句所修饰的名词或代词叫作先行词。定语从句一般用关系代词或关系副词来引导,关系词放在先行词与定语从句之间起连接作用,同时在从句中充当某种成分。
定语从句有限制性定语从句和非限制性定语从句。限制性定语从句对先行词起修饰限定作用;非限制性定语从句对先行词起补充说明作用。在非限制性定语从句中,先行词与定语从句往往由逗号隔开。
His brother who joined the army last year came back.
His brother, who joined the army last year, came back.
Chongqing, which is known for its hotpot, attracts many tourists every year.
He failed in the match, which was a pity.
关系词
引导定语从句的关系代词和关系副词具体见下表:
关系词 所修饰的先行词 在从句中所作的成分
关系代词 that 人/物 主语、宾语、表语
which 物/事 主语、宾语
who 人 主语、宾语
whom 人 宾语
whose 人/物 定语
as 人/物 主语、宾语、表语
关系副词 when 时间名词 时间状语
where 地点名词 地点状语
why 原因名词(the reason) 原因状语
一、关系代词的用法
关系代词指代先行词,在定语从句中作主语、宾语、表语、定语。在从句中作宾语时,关系代词常可省略。
that的用法
that指人或物,在从句中作主语、宾语或者表语,但that不用于引导非限制性定语从句。
Campers, in my eyes, were people that/who enjoyed insect bites, ill-cooked meals, and uncomfortable sleeping bags.(that/ who在从句中作主语,不能省略)
John is no longer the person(that/who/whom) I knew five years ago.
(that/who/whom在从句中作宾语,可以省略)
When the time came to make the final decision for a course, I decided to apply for the one that/which reflected my interest. (that/which在从句中作主语,不能省略)
The city is no longer the one (that) it used to be. (that在从句中作表语,可以省略)
注意
用 that 不用which的情况
(1)当先行词是 all, little, few, much, anything, everything, nothing, none, some等不定代词时。
He did everything that he could to help us.
When I was younger, all that my dad said was doctrine.
(2)当先行词被 all, every, no, some, any, little, much, the only, the very, the right, the last, few, just等修饰时。
The very air(that)I breathed was filled with sand!
Many trees line the road, including some pine trees that were first planted during the Ming Dynasty.
(3)当先行词既有人又有物时。
She described in her diary the people and the places that impressed her most.
(4)当先行词被序数词、形容词最高级修饰时。
The first thing that came into my mind was his words.
It was the most frightening and the most dangerous situation that I've ever been in.
(5)当先行词在主句中作表语,而关系代词在从句中也作表语时
China is no longer the country (that) it used to be.
(关系代词that在从句中作used to be的表语,可以省略)
(6)当关系代词出现在以who或which开头的疑问句中时,为避免重复,关系代词用that。
Who is the boy that is talking to Tina in English
(7)主句是there be 句型且关系词在从句中做主语时
There is a seat in the corner that is available.
(8)有两个定语从句时,其中一个关系代词宜用which, 另一个宜用that
They secretly built up a small factory, which produced things that cause pollution.
which的用法
which指物,在从句中作主语、宾语。在限制性定语从句中作宾语时which 可以省略。which在非限制性定语从句中既可指代主句中的名词/代词,也可以指代整个主句,且不可省略。
He is looking for a shop which/that sells toys. (which/that在从句中作主语)
This is the book(which/that) you are looking for. (which/that在从句中作宾语,可以省略)
After graduating from college, I spent some time going travelling, which turned out to be a wise decision.
(which指代主句提到的整件事,在从句中作主语)
注意
用which不用that的情况
(1)关系代词前有介词时。
Some experts think reading is the fundamental skill upon which school education depends.
Creating an atmosphere in which employees feel part of a team is a big challenge.
(2)在非限性定语从句中。
Have you ever read the book Dream of the Red Chamber, which was written by Cao Xueqin
In 1998 he was chosen as a member of Project 921, which is now called Shenzhou.
3. who, whom的用法
二者都用于指人。 who在定语从句中作主语、宾语,作宾语时可以省略。whom在定语从句中作宾语,可以省略。但若介词提到关系代词前,只用whom不用who,且不能省略。whom在非限制性定语从句中也不可省略。
The TV organizers planned to find four musicians who/that could act as well as sing.
The girl (who/whom/that) he is talking to is a model.
Many young people, most of whom were well-educated, headed for distant regions to chase their dreams.
(关系代词whom在从句中作介词of的宾语,不可以省略,不可以替换为who)
注意
用who不用that的情况
(1)先行词是指人的代词时,如one, ones, anyone, those等。
One who has nothing to fear dares to tell the truth.
God helps those who help themselves.
(2)先行词为人称代词时,关系代词应用who。
He who does not reach the Great Wall is not a true man.
4.whose的用法
whose既可指人也可指物,在定语从句中作定语,表示所属关系,意为“·····的”。
I live next door to a couple whose children often make a lot of noise.
The books on the desk, whose covers are shiny, are prizes for us.
whose + n.=the + n. + of whom/which=of which/whom + the + n.
(1)I live next door to a couple whose children often make a lot of noise.
= I live next door to a couple ____________________________ often make a lot of noise.
=I live next door to a couple___________________________ often make a lot of noise.
(2)The books on the desk, whose covers are shiny, are prizes for us.
=The books on the desk, ___________________________ are shiny, are prizes for us.
=The books on the desk, ____________________________ are shiny, are prizes for us.
as 的用法
(1)as 引导限制性定语从句常用于下列句式.
such + n. + as... 像...一样的,像...之类的
the same + n. + as... 和...同样的
We have found such materials as are used in their factory.
She is such a girl as is always finding fault with other people.
I have the same book as he has.
(2)as 引导非限制性定语从句, 先行词为整个主句或主句中的部分内容。
_______is known to all, the moon travels round the earth.
The moon travels round the earth, __________ is known to everybody.
which 和as
下列情况通常只用as不用which
(1)当定语从句置于句首时
As you see, the Chinese people are hard-working.
(2)as用于一些习惯表达:as everybody can see, as is well- known to all, as we had expected, as often happens, as has been said before, as is mentioned above ...
She has been absent again, as is expected.
As is mentioned above, he is not fit for the post at all.
下列情况通常用which 不用as
(1)关系代词代替前面主句中的宾语从句或定语从句的谓语动词后面有复合结构时。
I don’t think that he will come to see me , which makes me sad.
(2)which 一般作实义动词的主语,这时它引导的从句与主句之间存在着逻辑上的因果关系时。
Tom was always making the same mistake again and again, which made his teacher speechless.
(3)当非限制性定语从句是否定句时。
He pretended not to know me, which I didn’t understand.
He did a good job in the interview, which we hadn’t expected.
二、关系副词引导的定语从句
when的用法
when指时间,在定语从句中作时间状语。它的先行词通常为 time, day, morning, night, week等表示时间的名词。
There was a time when a deep blue sky, the song of the birds, moonlight and flowers could never have kept me spellbound.
We will put off the picnic in the park until next week, when the weather may be better.
where的用法
where指地点,在定语从句中作地点状语。它的先行词通常为place, spot, street, house, room, city, town, country等表示地点的名词或point(地步),case(情况),situation(情形),position(位置),stage(阶段)等表示抽象地点的名词。
The movie is set in a small town where the only movie theatre is preparing to close down.
They went to the Royal Theatre, where they saw an interesting play.
What are some situations where body language is the only form of communication
3. why的用法
why指原因或理由,它的先行词只有reason, why在定语从句中作原因状语,通常可以用for which 替换。
I have come around to explain the reason why (=for which) I was absent from the meeting.
Do you know the reason _________he left so early today
三、“介词+关系代词”引导的定语从句
在这种结构中,关系代词只能用whom(指人)和which(指事物)。
It was in 1952 and Mandela was the black lawyer to whom I went for advice.
I'll never forget the day on which (=when) I first met you.
This is the town in which(=where) Shakespeare was born.
I forgot the exact place to which (=where) I had paid a visit.
There's no reason for which (=why) we can betray our friends.
关系代词前介词的选用
(1)依据定语从句中动词、形容词等的习惯搭配来确定。
Charity is the cause to which he is devoted.
The means by which he solved the problem was practical.
(2)依据与先行词的搭配来确定。
This is the farm on which he works.
There is a hole in the wall through which you can see everything out.
(3)根据所表达的意思来确定。
The colourless gas without which we cannot live is called oxygen.
注意
有些“动词(+名词)+介词”的固定搭配,如look for, look after, call on,take care of等,不能把介词提到关系代词前。
My youngest brother, after whom I have to look, is very naughty. ( )
My youngest brother, whom I have to look after, is very naughty. ( )
四、“名词/代词/数词/最高级+of+关系代词”结构
none/some/several/a few/many/more/most/two/the biggest of which/whom
The journey around the world took the sailors nine months, the sailing time of which (=of which the sailing time) was 226 days.
Here are the questions, none of which (=of which none) I thought are difficult for you.
Present at the meeting were almost experts on AI, most of whom (=of whom most) were male.
五、其他特殊情况
the way作先行词
首先要确定关系词在定语从句中作什么成分。
(1)如果关系词在定语从句中作主语或宾语,则用关系代词that或which.
The way(that/which) he thought of to solve the problem was not practical.
(2)如果关系词在定语从句中作状语,则用关系词in which, that或省略。
This is the way (that/in which) he learns English.
time作先行词
time 作次数讲时,应用关系代词that 引导定语从句,that 可以省略;作一段时间讲时,应用关系副词when或者介词at/during +which 引导定语从句。
It was the second time (that) he had made up the same excuse.
That was a time when/during which there were no radios, no telephones or no TV sets.
六、定语从句中的主谓一致问题
当引导定语从句的关系代词在从句中作主语时,定语从句中的谓语动词的人称和数应与先行词保持一致。
(1) I作先行词时,定语从句中谓语动词应该与I保持一致。
I, who am your teacher, will try to answer all kinds of questions.
(2)当关系代词as或which 指代整个主句,且作从句的主语时,从句的谓语动词用单数形式。
Great changes have taken place in China, as is known to all.
(3)当“one of + the(+形容词最高级)+复数名词”位于关系词前时,定语从句的先行词是复数名词,从句的谓语动词要用复数形式。
The Lord of the Rings is one of the most wonderful movies that have been produced in Hollywood.
当“the only one of + the(+形容词最高级)+复数名词”位于关系词前时,定语从句的先行词是the only one,从句的谓语动词要用单数形式。
Titanic is the only one of the most wonderful movies that has been produced in Hollywood.
定语从句的解题方法
1. 判断是否考察定语从句
2. 区分主句和从句
3. 分析定语从句
(1)如果从句缺少主语,宾语,表语或定语,选择关系代词;
(2)如果从句不缺少主语,宾语,表语或定语,选择关系副词或介词+关系代词。