[摘要] 定语从句(attributive clause)就是在一个复杂语句中充当定语的从句。因为从句是用关系代词和关系副词作为关联词来引导,在句中又相当于形容词或形容词性短语的作用,所以定语从句也被称为关系从句或形容词性从句。定语从句通常都放在它所修饰的名词(或代词)之后,这里的名词(或代词)叫做先行词(antecedent)。引导定语从句的关系代词在定语从句中用作主语、宾语、定语等;关系副词在定语从句中只用作状语。
关键词:定语从句、先行词、关系代词、关系副词
在职业学校的英语教学中,定语从句部分是常常容易被学生忽视以及困惑学生的语法点,因此,我认为有必要对定语从句做一个归纳、梳理、分析、说明,以便学生更容易掌握。
1.概述
1.1定语从句的作用
定语从句也称为“关系从句”或“形容词性从句”,它在句子中作定语。
1.2定语从句修饰的词类
修饰名词或代词,有时修饰一个句子。被定语从句修饰的名词或代词叫先行词,它由名词或代词充当,有时是一个句子。
1.3定语从句位置
定语从句必须放在先行词的后面(一般紧跟在其后)
1.4从句引导词
定语从句由关系词引导,即由关系代词和关系副词引导。
1.5分隔定语从句
有时为了句子的平衡,较短的定语或较短的谓语动词插入定语从句和先行词之间,这叫分隔定语从句。
例如:①I was the only person in my office who was invited.
较短的定语
(关系代词who引导的定语从句与其先行词person分离)
②A new master will come tomorrow who will teach you English.
较短的谓语动词
(关系代词who引导的定语从句与其先行词master分离)
2.引导定语从句的关系词
2.1分类:
引导限制性定语从句
关系词 关系代词:that which who whom(宾格) whose(所有格) as
关系副词: when where why that(口语中)
与疑问词的区别
疑问词 疑问代词:what which who whom whose
疑问副词:when where why how 位置:关系词放在定语从句之前,引导定语从句。
定语从句的由来 ① The student is our monitor.
② The student is in red. (将两个简单句合成一个句子)
步骤:a.找两个句子中共同意义的单词——先行词(名词或代词)
b.将句子②嵌入句子①先行词之后。
The student/the student is in red is our monitor.
c.将重复的名词或代词用关系词代替。
The student/who(=the student) is in red is our monitor.
① 引导定语从句,起引导作用。
注释说明——关系词的作用 ② 代替先行词,或者说“指代前面的先行词”
③ 代替先行词在定语从句中作句子成份。 作用:关系代词起代词的作用;关系副词起副词的作用,都在定语从句中作句子成份。 2.5 关系词的使用
如何使用关系词是根据 ①先行词是指“人”还是指“事物” ;
②先行词在句子中所充当的句子成分来确定的。
3.关系代词引导的定语从句。
3.1关系代词:that which who whom whose
3.2 具体方法:
3.2.1 先行词指人时用who、whom、that, 先行词在从句中作主语时用who, that ; 先行词在从句中作宾语时,用who(m), that,在非正式文体中,常用who 代替whom ,关系词可省略; 作表语时,用that, whom, 例如: The foreigner who/ that visited our school yesterday is from Canada.
The girl (who/whom/that) we met yesterday is John’s sister.
3.2.2 先行词指物时,用which、that, 关系代词which、that在从句中作主语、宾语; 关系代词在从句中作表语时只用that 。 3.2.3whose在从句中作定语,不可省略。whose引导的定语从句,先行词可指人,也可是物。指人时,whose=先行词’s;指物时whose=of+先行词,=of which。
例如 Harry is the boy whose(=the boy’s) mother is our maths teacher.
This is the house whose windows face south.
或 This is the house of which the windows face south.
3.2.5.关系代词作从句的主语时,从句谓语动词的人称和数要与先行词保持一致。
Eg. Those who are going come here.要去的人到这儿来。
3.2.6关系代词作介词的宾语时,介词的位置:
3.2.6.1关系代词that、whom、who、which在从句中作介词的宾语时:
3.2.6.1.1可以“先行词+介词+关系代词whom、which+从句”,此时关系代词不可省略。 “介词+关系代词which, who” 结构中,关系代词只能是 which(物), whom(人), whose,而不能用that, who.
3.2.6.1.2为了使关系代词紧跟它所修饰的词,也可以把介词放在从句中有关动词的后面,此时关系代词可用that , which, whom(who),且可省略。
Eg. The person to whom you just talked is Mr. Li.
The person (whom/who/that) you just talked to is Mr. Li.
3.2.6.2含有介词的动词短语一般不拆开,介词仍放在动词的后面。
Eg. Is this watch which he is looking for?
3.2.6.3关系代词that、who在从句中作介词的宾语时,介词不能放在关系代词的前面,此时的介词只能放在从句中有关动词的后面。
在“介词+关系代词 ”结构中,关系代词只能是whom、which,介词+whom(人);介词+ which(物),而不能是that、who。
Eg. The city (that/which) he lives in is very far away.
3.2.6.4关系代词whose也可以在从句中与它所修饰的名词一起作介词的宾语(介词+ whose+名词):介宾。
Eg. The boss in whose company my father worked is a very kind person.
3.2.6.5关系代词或介词+关系代词在从句中作定语时,被修饰词常需提前。(条件是先行词指物)
eg. There is a room, the window of which faces the river. 先行词 被修饰词+ of which
=whose window= of which window
3.2.6.6 在“介词+which/whom”结构中,介词的选择取决于: 定语从句中,谓语动词或表语的搭配 例如:This is the college in which I am studying.( study in the college)
He is the man about whom we are talking. ( talk about the man)