定语从句

在前面我们已经讨论了三大从句中前两种，名词性从句和状语从句。今天我们来看最难的从句，定语从句。

一、定语从句

所谓定语从句，就是一个句子，在另一个句子中，作定语。

定语从句，其实是两个并列句的合并。比如：

• Captain Fawcett’s first passenger was a doctor who flew from Birmingham to a lonely village in the Welsh mountains.

在这句话中，who指的是主句提到的the doctor。如果按照传统的语法来翻译就是：Fawcett机长的第一个乘客是一个从伯明翰飞到南威尔士一个偏僻村子去的医生。

• Captain Fawcett’s first passenger was a doctor and the doctor flew from Birmingham to a lonely village in the Welsh mountains.

在这句话中，后面分句中的the doctor，其实就是主句中的doctor。所以，后面那个句子的the doctor可以改成who，然后去掉and，就变成了定语从句。在这里，the doctor是先行词（定语从句要修饰的词），who则是关系词（定语从句的引导词）。

二、（非）限定性定语从句

2.1、限定性 vs 非限定性

所谓限定性定语从句，就是对所修饰的内容进行限制，即缩小范围。

例如，在“What is the name of the tall man who/that just came in?”这句话中，说话的人问那个刚刚进来的高个子男生叫什么名字？“刚刚进来的”就是限定，不可以省略，否则就会变成问所有的高个子男生叫什么名字了，会影响前面整个句子的完整性。

所谓非限定性定语从句，则是对所修饰的内容进行补充，即增加信息。

例如，在“They bring suggestions and tradeoffs to the table, some of which are included in the revised spec.”这句话中，逗号后面的some of which···补充说明他们提出的建议，有些还会加到新版的设计规范文件里面去。逗号后面这部分信息可有可无，即使省略，也不影响前面主句意思的完整性。

我们可以比较下面这两句话，体会一下它们之间的区别。

• She married a man that she met on a bus.
• She married a very nice young engineer from Chicago, whom she met on a bus.

2.2、两者在形式上的区别

从形式上看，限定性定语从句可以用that引导，并且引导词有时可以省略，此外，主句与从句不需要用逗号隔开；而非限定性定语从句不可以用that引导，并且引导词不可以省略，此外，主句与从句必须用逗号隔开。

我们来看两组例句。

第一组：

• Have you got a book which/that is realy easy to read?（可以用that引导，没有逗号）
• I lent him the Old Man and the Sea, which is realy easy to read.（不可以用that代替which，必须用逗号隔开）

第二组：

• Did you like the wine we drank last night？（引导词可以省略）
• I poured him a glass of wine, which he drank at once.（引导词不可以省略）

这里，我们需要知道的是，在限定性定语从句中，如果关系代词作及物动词的宾语，则该关系代词可省略。若作介词的宾语，则可以将介词放在句尾，再省略关系代词。

• It is one of the ugliest faces (that) I have ever semm.（定语从句前可以省略掉作宾语的关系代词that）
• That was all (that) she remembered.（定语从句前可以省略掉作宾语的关系代词that）
• The pictures (that / which) is sent us were very disppointing because its main mirror was faulty!（定语从句前可以省略掉作直接宾语的关系代词that或which）
• Peter is man (whom) I enjoy working with.（定语从句前可以省略掉作介词with的定语的关系代词whom）

2.3、两者所修饰的对象

限定性定语从句只能修饰先行词，遵循就近原则。非限定性定语从句既可以修饰先行词，也可以修饰整个句子或句子的一部分。我们可以比较下面两句话：

• We had some ice-cream which was very unusual.
• We had some ice-cream, which was very unusual.

第一句话是限定性定语从句，只能修饰先行词ice-cream，说明这个冰淇淋不一般、很难得。

第二句话是非限定性定语从句，即可以修饰先行词，也可以修饰整个句子。所以这里就有可能产生歧义，一种理解和第一句一样，还有一种理解就是从句修饰We had some ice-cream这件事，强调我们不太吃冰淇淋，所以吃冰淇淋这件事情很少见、非同寻常。但是既然专门用了非限定性定语从句，一般作者的意图就是第二种解释。

此外，还需要注意的是，当先行词为专有名词（人名或地名）或独一性名词（如father、mother···）时，因为名词本身就具有特殊性，其后关系代词引导的定语从句，必须是非限定性定语从句。比如，

• Einstein, who was a great scientist, create the theory of relativity.
• Beijing, which is the capital of China, has developed into an international city.
• Among them will be Debbie’s mother, who swam the Channel herself when she was a girl.

三、关系词

定语从句的引导词，即关系词，主要可分为两大类：

• 代词类关系词
  • 关系代词
  • 关系代词所有格
  • 复合关系代词
• 副词类关系词
  • 关系副词

3.1、关系代词

关系代词，就是代替前面的先行词，在从句中作主语、宾语、表语。代替人时，作主语用主格who，作宾语用宾格whom；代替物，或代替整个句子，无论作主语还是宾语，均用which。我们来看一些具体的例句：

• Captain Fawcett’s first passenger was a doctor who flew from Birminghan to a lonely village in the Welsh mountains.（（who作主语，代替doctor）

  弗西特机长的第一名乘客是位医生，他从伯明翰飞往威尔士山区一个偏僻的村庄。

• He is a man whom we should respect.（whom作宾语，代替man；在美式英语中，关系代词作宾语时，也可用who）

  他是一个我们应该尊重的人。

• In a few years the small workshop had become a large factory which employed 728 people.（which作主语，代替factory）

  几年之后，小铺子已经发展成了一个雇有728人的大工厂。

• Forest fires are ofen caused by cigarette ends which people carelessly throw away.（which作宾语，代替cigarette ends）

  森林火灾时常由人们随手扔掉的香烟头引起。

• In 1948， he went to Lake Kivu to observe a new volcano which he later named Kituro.（which作宾语，代替volcano，Kituro是宾补）

  1948年他去了基伍湖，对一座后来被他命名为基图罗的新火山进行观察。

关系代词也可以作介词的宾语，此时可以将介词放到关系词的后面。但是，在正式的书面语中，要把介词放在关系代词之前。此外，如果代替的是人，则只能用whom。

• Peter is a man whom I enjoy working with.

  Peter is a man with whom I enjoy working.

• The city which I live in is very large.

  The city in which I live is very large.

that也可作关系代词，取代who、whom、which，但that前不能有逗号（即只能引导限定性定语从句），也不能有介词。

• This is the sort of thing that Jeremy loves.

  This is the sort of thing which Jeremy loves.

  这正是杰里米喜欢做的事情。

• A game that is very popular with these young swimmers is the underwater tricycle race.

  A game which is very popular with these young swimmers is the underwater tricycle race.

  这些幼小的游泳运动员非常喜爱的一种游戏是水下三轮车比赛。

需要注意的是，以下情况只能用that作关系词：

• 先行词同时出现“人”和“物”。此时，先行词通常是一个复合型名词。

  The scientist and his inventions that the article deals with are quite familiar to us.

  这篇文章里说的那位科学家和他的发明，我们都比较熟悉。

• 先行词是不定代词。如，something、anything、nothing、everything等

  I would much rather receive something that made me laugh.

  我更愿意接受能让我高兴的东西。

  A variable is something that can be changed and controlled.

  变量是能够被改变和控制的东西。

• 先行词被绝对性形容词修饰。如，序数词、形容词的最高级、the very、the only、all、every、no等修饰时。

  Of course, the Hubble is above the earth’s atmosphere, so it will soon be sending us the clearest pictures that we have ever seen.

  当然，哈勃位于地球的大气层之外，因此，它很快就会给我们传送我们所见到过的、有关行星和远距离星系的最清晰的照片。

  All the students that are studying in our class is hardworking.

  我们班上的学生都很努力。

• 句中有两个相同关系代词引导的定语从句，为避免重复，其中一个用that。

  He works hard, which is a fact that is known to us.

  他很用功，这时我们都知道的事实。

  My best friend was devastated by the letter which she received that rejected her application to university.

  我最好的朋友被那封她收到的拒绝她入大学申请的信打击了。

  There was no trace of fingerprints, but the inspector found a dirty red bundle that contained jewellery which the old lady said was not hers.

  巡官没有发现指纹，却发现了一个装有珠宝的、肮脏的红包袱。老妇人说那不是她的。

造句练习（注：鼠标选中空白处有惊喜哦）：

• 双语人士（bilingual）就是能说两种语言一样好的人。

  A bilingual is a person who can speak tow languages equally well.

• 不要和自己了解不充分的人交朋友。

  Don’t make friends with those whom you do not know well.

• 要参加比赛的人必须在本周五之前报名（sign up）。

  People who want to attend the competition must sign up by this Friday.

• Lulu买了那件她想要的价值不菲的裙子。

  Lulu bought that expensive skirt which she wanted.

• 我把我银行账户里边的最后一美元花掉了。

  I spent the last dollar that I had left in my bank account.

• 我喜欢我的学校，它以优良的设施闻名。

  I like my shcool, which is famou for its excellent facilities.

• 我在聚会上遇到很多小学同学，其中一些我都认不出来了。

  I met many elementary shcoolmates at the party, some of whom I didn’t recognize.

• 彼得是个非常优秀的工程师，这点我们都知道。

  Peter is a very excellent engineer, which we all know.

• 这位是我的女朋友，她英语说得非常流利。

  This is my girlfriend, who can speak fluent English.

3.2、关系代词所有格

关系代词所有格，是由代词所有格（his、her、their、my、your、its）变化而来的。它和后面的名词一起，共同作定语从句的主语、宾语。

无论是代替人还是代替物，关系代词所有格均可用whose；代替物时，也可用of which；当先行词为代词的时候，不能用whose，而要用of whom。我们来看具体的例句：

• Many people whose home are in town want to live in the country.（whose代替人）

  很多家在城里的人都想住在乡下。

• Success is a journey whose initial step is paved with an inner stirring.（whose代替物）

  Sucess is a journey of which the initial step is paved with an inner stirring.

  Sucess is a journery, the initial step of which is paved with an inner stirring.

  成功是一段旅程，第一步是由内心的热情铺就的。

名词/代词 + of + whom/which这种结构，属于非限定性定语从句，表示从属关系。

• Light is the fastest thing in the world, the speed of which is 300.000 kilometers per second.（这里的先行词speed是名词，所以可以改成whose speed …）

  Light is the fastest thing in the world, whose speed is 300.000 kilometers per second.

  光是世界上最快的东西，它的速度是每秒30万公里。

• The old man has three sons, one of whom is a doctor.（这里的先行词one是代词，所以不能改成whose one …）

  这个男人有三个儿子，其中一个是医生。

• There are 300 college students in the small hall, most of whom are freshmen.（这里的先行词most是代词，所以也不能改成whose most …）

  这个小厅里边有300个大学生，他们中的大多数是大一学生。

造句练习（注：鼠标选中空白处有惊喜哦）：

• 这是玛丽，她的爸爸是我们学校的校长。

  This is Mary whose father is the headmaster of our school.

• 我们住在一栋老房子里，它的屋顶可能随时会崩塌（collapse）。

  We live in an old house whose roof may collapse anytime.

• 这就是那台硬盘中病毒的电脑。

  This is the computer whose hard disk is infected with a virus.

3.3、复合关系代词

最常用的符合关系代词是what。它是先行词和关系代词融为一体，形成的关系代词，相当于the thing that。所以，符合关系代词引导的定语从句，前面绝对没有先行词。

• What john said may be true.

  The thing that John said may be true.

  What was said by John may be true.

  约翰说的可能是真的。

• He was astonished at what he found.

  看到的情景使他吃惊。

what也可由all that取代：

• Now all that was needed were the parents, but they were absent.

  Now what was needed were the parents, but they were absent.

  现在，我们需要我们的父母，但是他们却不在。

• All that Billy told us a year ago has become true.

  What Billy told us a year ago has become true.

  Billy一年前告诉我们的事情成真了。

造句练习（注：鼠标选中空白处有惊喜哦）：

• 我没有听到你刚才说的，能再说一遍吗？

  I didn’t hear what you just said. Could you say that again?

• 我知道你的意思，但是我不同意。

  I know what you mean but I can’t agree with you.

此外，还有一些不太常用的复合关系代词，它们分别是：

• 代替人：whoever = anybody who（凡是…的人）；whomevery = anybody whom（凡是…的人）
• 代替物：whatever = anything which（…的任何东西）
• 代替人或物：whichever = any one which/who（三者以上同类的任何一个） = either which/who（二者同类的任何一个）

代词whoever有时也可以视为复合关系代词，相当于anybody who

• Whoever plays with fire gets burnt.

  Anybody who plays with fire gets burnt.

  玩火者必自焚。

• I’II teach English to whoever wants to learn it.

  I’II teach English to anybody who wants to learn it.

  谁想学英文，我就教他。

代词whatever是what的强调形式，相当于anything which

• She would do whatever she wanted to.

  She would do anything which she wanted to.

  她想要做什么就做什么。

3.4、关系副词

关系副词一共有3种，均由“介词 + 关系代词which”变化而来：

• when = in which、on which、at which代替表时间的名词

• where = in which、on which、at which代替表地方的名词

• why = for which代替the reason

在限定性定语从句中，where不能省略，when和why可以省略

• There will be moments in life when you are confronted with new options.（when = in these moments = in which，在从句中作时间状语）

  There will be moments in life you are confronted with new options.

  人生中总会有面对新选择的时候。

• Mrs. Brabante is talking to the manager of the local factory where the crop is processed.（where = in the factory = in which，在从句中作地点状语）

  布拉班特太太现在正和负责通心粉加工的本地加工厂的经理交谈。

• Unsuccessful people can always find reasons why they are not doing well.（why = for these reasons = for which，在从句中作原因状语）

  Unsuccessful people can always find reasons they are not doing well.

  注：这里不仅可以省略why，还可以保留why，省略reasons，这时就变成了一个宾语从句

  Unsuccessful people can always find why they are not doing well.

  不成功的人总能找到自己表现不好的理由。

当where、when代替的先行词作be动词的表语时，可省略先行词，保留关系副词

• This is the place where he was born.

  This is where he was born.

  这是他出生的地方。

• That is the day when he will come.

  That is when he will come.

  那就是他要来的日子。

当先行词是名词the way的时候，后面的关系副词是in which或that，而且可以省略

• The assistant who served her did not like the way she was dressed.（the way后面省略了in which/that）

  接待她的售货员不喜欢她的那副打扮。

• I liked the way she organized the meeting.（the way后面省略了in which/that）

  我喜欢她组织会议的方法。

• I hate the way in which he stares at me.

  我讨厌他那样盯着我。我讨厌他那样盯着我。

• The only way what they can preserve their history is to recount it as sagas.

  他们保存历史的唯一方法是将历史当作传说讲述。

注：这些句型中的the way （in which/that）可被how取代，变成宾语从句，意思不变。但用的不多，仅需了解。例如：

• The assistant who served her did not like how she was dressed.
• I liked how she organized the meeting.
• I hate how he stares at me.

the way也可作副词连词引导方式状语从句：

• I admire the way you speak to your students.（定语从句）
• You should do it the way you were taught.（方式状语从句）

此外，一些表示时间的名词短语（by the time、at the time、next time、every time、the first time、the day …），后面接着没有引导词的句子，其实就是省略了关系副词when。

• Every time (when) he wanted to come into the garden he would bark until someone opened the gate.

  每当它想到花园里来时，便汪汪叫个不停，直到有人把门打开。

• By the time (when) you read this, the Hubble’s eagle eye will have sent us thousands and thousands of wonderful pictures.

  等到你读到这篇文章时，敏锐的哈勃望远镜已经为我们送来了成千上万张精彩的照片。

造句练习（注：鼠标选中空白处有惊喜哦）：

• 上午11点是考试结束时间，那时所有学生都必须放下笔（put down）。

  Eleven a.m. is the tiem when the exam will be over and all student must put their pens down.

• 我想知道你今天上午上学迟到的原因。

  I want to know the reason why you were late to school thi morning.

• 月球上有一个地方，是Neil Armstrong所踏出的第一步。

  There is a spot on the moon where Nei Armstrong took his first step.

• 这是他处理问题的方法。

  This is the way he handled problems. / This is how he handled problems.

• 我们有时把荒岛想象成某种阳光终日普照的天堂。

  We sometimes imagine a desert island to be a sort of paradise where the sun always shines.

四、小结

最后，小结一下今天的内容，我们还是直接看图：