定语从句是英语中用于修饰名词或代词的重要结构,其核心在于通过关系词引导从句,对先行词进行限定或补充说明。以下是定语从句用法的详细解析:


一、关系代词的选择‌

who/whom‌

  • who‌ 指人,在从句中作主语或宾语(口语中宾语可用who代替whom)。 例:The teacher ‌who teaches us English‌ is from Canada.(作主语)
  • whom‌ 指人,作宾语(正式场合)。 例:The girl ‌whom you met‌ is my cousin.(作宾语)

which‌

  • 指物,可作主语或宾语。 例:The book ‌which is on the table‌ is mine.(作主语) 例:The movie ‌(which) I watched‌ was exciting.(作宾语,可省略)

that‌

  • 可指人或物,多用于限制性定语从句。以下情况通常用‌that‌: 先行词被最高级、序数词(如the best, the first)或all, only, any等修饰。 例:This is ‌the most interesting book that I’ve ever read‌.
  • 先行词同时包含人和物。 例:They discussed ‌the people and places that inspired the novel‌.

whose‌

  • 表所有关系,可指人或物。 例:The artist ‌whose paintings we admire‌ will hold an exhibition.

省略关系代词‌

-当关系代词在从句中作宾语时可省略。 例:The song ‌(that) you recommended‌ is amazing.


二、限制性 vs. 非限制性定语从句‌

限制性定语从句‌

  • 对先行词起限定作用,无逗号分隔,不可省略。 例:The man ‌who lives next door‌ is a doctor.(限定“哪个”男人)

非限制性定语从句‌

  • 补充说明,有逗号分隔,不可用that。 例:My brother, ‌who works in Paris‌, will visit me.(补充信息,不限定)

三、关系副词的使用‌

where‌(地点)

例:This is the park ‌where we first met‌.(= in which)

when‌(时间)

例:I’ll never forget the day ‌when we graduated‌.(= on which)

why‌(原因)

例:Do you know the reason ‌why he resigned‌?(= for which)


四、介词 + 关系代词

  • 正式语序中,介词可置于关系代词前(此时用which/whom)。 例:The company ‌for which she works‌ is famous.
  • 非正式语序中,介词可后置,此时可用that或省略关系代词。 例:The company ‌(that) she works for‌ is famous.

五、避免歧义‌

- 确保定语从句紧跟先行词。

  • 歧义句:I saw the man in the park ‌who was wearing a hat‌.(修饰“park”还是“man”?)
  • 修正:I saw the man ‌who was wearing a hat‌ in the park.

六、总结要点‌

  • 根据先行词选择关系代词(人/物/所有格)。
  • 限制性从句无逗号,非限制性有逗号且不可用that。
  • 关系代词作宾语时可省略。
  • 关系副词可替换为“介词 + which”。
  • 注意句子结构,避免修饰歧义。

通过大量例句练习,可以更熟练地掌握定语从句的用法,增强表达的准确性和丰富性。