如何学好名词性从句
沈永铭
名词性从句是连贯初中到高中的英语重点语法概念，也是历年高考英语考试的一个考查热点。纵观历年高考英语试题，我们就能发现：高考英语对于名词性从句考查的重点就是名词性从句的引导词的选择、引导词之间的区别、名词性从句的陈述语序以及主从句时态基点一致性原则等。本文结合高考实际，重点给同学们谈一下如何掌握好名词性从句的问题。
一、什么是名词性从句？
在主从复合句中，不修饰任何句子中的成分而独立存在的从句就是名词性从句。名词性从句包括：主语从句、表语从句、宾语从句和同位于从句；名词性从句由连接代词和连接副词引导。
（一）主语从句
在主从复合句中位于谓语之前、充当主语功能的从句叫做主语从句。引导主语从句的连接词常有：连词that， whether；连接代词who，what，which以及其强调形式whoever，whatever， whichever；和连接副词when，where，how， why等。例如：
1． ____ fashion differs from country to country may reflect a cultural difference from one aspect．（2002春季上海）
A．What B．That C．This D．Which
2． ____ she couldn't understand was ________fewer and fewer students showed interests in her lessons．（2000上海）
A．What；why B．That；what C．What；because D．Why；that
3． ____has helped to save the drowning girl is worth praising．（99上海）
A．Who B．The one C．Anyone D．Whoever
4． ____ we can't get seems better than ____ we have．（NMET96）
A．What；what B．What；that C．That；that D．That；what
5． ____ we'll go camping tomorrow depends on the weather．（NMET96）
A．If B．Whether C．That D．Where
6． ____ he said at the meeting astonished everybody present．（MET93）
A．What B．That C．The fact D．The m atter
7． ____ you don't like him is none of my business．（92上海）
A．What B．Who C．That D．Whether
另外，当主语从句位于句首时，句子整体常常显得很笨重。因此，我们一般要把从句放在句末，前面用引导词it作形式主语，主语从句在复合句中充当真正主语。例如：
8．It worried her a bit ____ her hair was turning grey．（MET92）
A．while B．that C．if D．for
（二）表语从句
在主从复合句中，位于连系动词之后且充当表语的从句叫做表语从句。引导表语从句的连接词常有：连词that， whether；连接代词who，what，which；连接副词when，where，how，why以及其它连词as if，as though，because等。例如：
9．What the doctors really doubt is____ my mother will recover from the serious disease soon．（2001春季上海）
A．when B．how C．whether D．why
10．-I drove to Zhuhai for the air show last week．
-Is that ____ you had a few days off？（NMET99）
A．why B．when C．what D．where
11．Go and get your coat．It's____ you left it．（MET92）
A．there B．where C．there where D．where there
12．I had neither a raincoat nor an umbrella．____I got wet all through．（98上海）
A．It's the reason B．That's why C．There's why D．It's how
（三）同位语从句
在主从复合句中用充当同位语、说明所修饰的同位名词的内容的从句叫做同位语从句。同位语从句通常用在idea，news，fact，thought, promise，suggestion，belief，truth，reason,chance,information,news,conclusion,possibility, question,ask,doubt,wonder等同位名词的后面，说明该名词所表示的具体内容。引导同位语从句的连接词常有：连词that，连接副词how， when，where等.。
He left me a message that he would buy me a ticket to the rock concert.
13．Information has been put forward____ more middle school graduates will be admitted into universities．（2001上海）
A． While B．that C．when D．as
（四）宾语从句
在主从复合句中充当宾语、位于及物动词、介词或复合谓语之后的从句叫做宾语从句。引导宾语从句的连接词常有：连词that，whether，if；连接代词who，which，what以及其强调形式 whoever，whichever，whatever；连接副词 when，where，why，how等。例如：
14．When you answer questions in a job interview，please remember the golden rule：Always give the money exactly____ he wants．（2002年春季上海）
A．what B．which C．when D．that
15．-I think it's going to be a big problem ．-Yes，it could be．
-I wonder ____ we can do about it．（2002春季）
A．if B．how C．what D．that
16．A computer can only do ____ you have instructed it to do．（NMET2001）
A．how B．after C．what D．when
17．Little Tommy was reluctant to tell the schoolmaster____ he had done the day before．
A．that B．how C．where D．what
18．These wild flowers are so special that I would do ____ I can to save them ．（2000春季）
A．whatever B．that C．which D．whichever
19．Eat ____ cake you like and leave the others for ____ comes in late．（2000春季上海）
A．any；who B．every；whoever C．whichever；whoever D．either；whoever
20．It is generally considered unwise to give a child ____ he or she wants．（NMET97）
A．however B．whatever C．whichever D．whenever
21．Sarah hopes to become a friend of ____shares her interests．（95上海）
A．anyone B．whom ever C．whoever D．no m atter who
二、在学习名词性从句时还要注意的几方面事项：
1、 在名词性从句中，当从句是疑问句时无比要遵循陈述语序的原则。例如：
22.No one can be sure ____ in a million years.(MET91)
A.what man will look like B.what will man look like
C.man will look like what D.what look will man like
23.____ is unknown to me.
A.Where does he live B.Where he lives C.He lives where D.Where he lives in
24．Someone is ringing the doorbell．Go and see ____．（2000上海）
A．who is he B．who he is C．who is it D．who it is
24．Can you make sure ____the gold ring ？（MET90）
A． where Alice had put B．where had Alice put
C．where Alice has put D．where has Alice put
25．You can't imagine ____ when they received these nice Christmas presents．（94上海）
A．how they were excited B．how excited they were
C．how excited were they D．they were how excited
2、what和that引导名词性从句时的区别。that引导名词性从句时只起连接词作用，本身无实际意义，在从句中不作任何成分； what引导名词性从句时本身有意义，即表示“什么”或“所……的事物”（＝the thing（s） which），同时又在从句中担任一定的成分,；在从句中指物或指事，作主语、表语、宾语或定语。短语动词do with就只能与what连用。
2、 if和whether引导名词性从句时的区别。if和whether都可以用来引导名词性从句，但引导主语从句（位于句首时）、表语从句、同位语从句以及在介词之后引导宾语从句时要用whether，而不用if。
(1)if ,whether表"是否"时引导名词性从句；if表"如果"时引导条件状语从句；whether表"无论是否；不管是否"时引导让步状语从句。
例26：The WTO cannot live up to its name ____ it does not include a country that is home to one fifth of mankind.(NMET2000) A.whether B.while C.if D.even though
析：选C，句意为："如果世贸组织不包括占世界人口五分之一的国家，就显得名不副实"。
例27：____ you will go there or not,I'll go there.
A.Whether B.If C.Unless D.While
析：选A，因为该句句意为："无论你是否去，我都会去那里"。
4． who与whoever，what与whatever引导名词性从句时的区别。whoever引导名词性从句时相当于anyone who，those who。 whatever引导名词性从句时相当于anything that。试比较以下句子：
（1） Who broke the window is unknown．不知道是谁打破了窗户。
Whoever breaks the law will be punished．凡是犯法者都要受到惩罚。
（2） Do what you like．你爱干什么就干什么吧。
Do whatever you like．你爱干什么就干什么。（whatever比what语气更强）
5．在宾语从句中还要掌握好否定前移现象。所谓“否定前移现象”就是指当主句的主语是第一人称，且主句的谓语动词是think,believe;suppose;expect等感知动词时，人们常把对宾语从句的否定前移到主句中去的现象。这种现象的语言欺骗性较强，而且还影响到主从复合句的反意疑问句的后部句子的结构。例如：
（1）I don’t think that it’s right for you to do so.我认为你这样做是不对的。
这个句子中明显把对从句的否定转移到了主句中。
（2）We don’t believe that Tom can pass the driving test,_______?
A.do we B.don’t we C.can he D.can’t he
该主从复合句的反意疑问句的后部就是与从句保持一致，正确的选项为C项。
6．当fact,idea,reason,truth,chance,information,news,conclusion,possibility,believe,conclude等表示肯定意义的动词或名词前后的名词性从句一般为肯定句，名词性从句宜用that引导从句；当question,ask,doubt,wonder等表示疑问的名词或动词之前有了否定副词not或否定代词no时，从句一般为肯定句，宜用that引导从句。例如：
（1） The reason why he was absent this morning was that he was badly ill.
（2） There is no doubt that the clever and deligent will pass the college entrance examinations next year
7．在包含名词性从句的复合句中，我们都要遵循主从句动词时态基点一致性原则，即要么都用现在时态，要么都用过去时态。但是，当从句的内容为客观事实、客观真理、生活常识或谚语时，不受主从句时态一致原则的限制，仍要坚持用一般现在时；当从句的内容为历史的事实时，不受主从句时态一致原则的限制，仍用一般过去时。例如：
(1)Our physics teacher once told us that light travels faster than sound.
(2)It is known to us all that the People’s Republic of China was founded on October 1,1949.
8、在表示“命令”、“坚持”、“建议”或“要求”的动词或名词前后的名词性从句常用虚拟语气。
1）虚拟语气在宾语从句中的用法。由wish引导的宾语从句常表示说话人的一种强烈的却暂时无法实现的愿望。 How I wish she would be on my side!(But in fact it’s quite impossible.我多么希望她能站在我一边啊！
另外，在表示“命令”、“坚持”、“要求”或“建议”等意义的及物动词（order,command,demand,require,insist,suggest）之后的宾语从句中的谓语动词同样常使用虚拟语气，表示说话人的要求，其结构为：主语+should+动词原形，其中的should常可省略。The head teacher demanded that we (should finish) the task in time today.
但是，当insist表示“坚持认为”的意思时，或suggest表示“暗示”或“表明”之意时，宾语从句仍用陈述语气。试比较：
My parents insisted that I ( should) enter a key university.
My parents insisted that they were right.
The soldier’s pale face suggested that he was happy to have given his life to his motherland.
The monitress suggested that we (should ) hold a class meeting tomorrow afternoon to discuss the problem.
2）、 虚拟语气用在主语从句中。
在句型 "It is important (necessary, strange, natural) that .... " 中，that 后面的从句中的谓语动词常用：“ should + 动词原形 ”。例如：
It's necessary that we should have a walk now. 我们有必要出去散散步。
It's natural that she should do so. 她这样做是很自然的。
It's important that we should take good care of the patient. 重要的是我们要照顾好病人。
同理，在表示“命令”、“坚持”、“要求”或“建议”等意义的名词前后的主语从句、标语从句和同位语从句中的谓语动词同样用虚拟语气，既：“主语+(should)+ 动词原形”的句型。例如：
His suggestion /advice is that we should start early tomorrow morning.
It is necessary that a college student ________ at least a foreign language．（上海’1993）
A．masters B．should master C．mastered D．will master
二、练习与检测
1. _____ we need more practice is quite clear.
A. When B. What C. That D. /
2. _____ I accept the gift or refuse it is none of your business.
A. If B. Whether C. Even if D. No matter when
3. _____ knows the truth about it will tell you.
A. Who that B. That C. Whoever D. That who
4. _____ he is doing seems quite difficult.
A. How B. That C. Which D. What
5. _____ certain that his invention will lead to the development of production.
A. That's B. This is C. It's D. What's
6. _____ that there is another good harvest this year.
A. It says B. It is said C. It was said D. He was said
7. _____ that she has received a doctor's degree.
A. It's a splendid news B. This is a splendid news
C. It's splendid news D. This is splendid news
8. It is strange _____.
A. that no one should like this book B. that no one liked this book
C. that why no one likes this book D. why no one likes this book
9. It is suggested that the experiment _____ under low temperature.
A. makes B. is make C. should be made D. will be made
10. _____ still needs to be discussed.
A. How is the plan to be carried out B. How the plan is to be carried out
C. Why is the plan carried out D. Why the plan carried out
11. _____ is unknown to us all.
A. Where did she put it B. Where she put it C. That where she put it D. In which she put it
12. _____ nothing to do with us.
A. What he did is B. What he has done is C. What did he do has D. What he has done has
13. That's _____ the Party called on us to do.
A. what B. that C. how D. why
14. She looked _____ she were ten years younger.
A. that B. like C. as D. as though
15. The reason I have to go is _____ if I don't.
A. that she will be disappointed B. because she will be disappointed
C. on account of her being disappointed D. that she will be disappointing
16. It was _____ he worked hard that he succeeded.
A. because B. since C. as D. for
17. It seemed that the girl _____.
A. had lost important something B. had lost something important
C. lost important things D. lost something important
18. The fact _____ he is an advanced worker is well known.
A. what B. which C. that D. why
19. The fact _____ in the past few years proves that our Party's policy is correct.
A. that great achievement was made B. which great achievements were made
C. what have been made D. that great achievements have been made
20. I have no idea _____.
A. what does the word "infinity" mean B. what the word "infinity" means
C. what the meaning of the word "infinity" D. what the word "infinity" mean
21. His suggestion _____ to see the art exhibition interested every one of us.
A. that we go B. which we should go C. that we would go D. when we should go
22. I'll certainly tell the Emperor _____ pleased I am with it.
A. how B. what C. who D. whom
23. I wonder _____ he asked such a silly question in public.
A. how B. what C. that D. why
24. _____ do you think will teach us maths next term?
A. Whom B. Who C. What D. That
25. I will give this dictionary to _____ wants to have it.
A. whomever B. whoever C. whom D. whatever
26. Do _____ you think is right _____ difficulties you may have.
A. what/however B. that/what C. whatever/whoever D. what/whatever
27. There’s a feeling in me ___ we’ll never know what a UFO is – not ever. (上海2002)
A. that B. which C. of which D. what
28. He was interested in _____ he had seen at the exhibition.
A. which B. that C. all what D. all that
29. He often thinks of _____ he can do more for the four modernizations.
A. what B. how C. that D. which
30. Take _____ much you want and _____ you want to.
A. however/when B. whenever/how C. however/whoever D. however/whenever
31. Perseverance is a kind of quality – and that’s ___ it takes to do anything well. (上海2003)
A. what B. that C. which D. why
练习与检测答案
1-5 CBCDC 6-10 BCACB 11-15 BDADA 16-20 ABCDB 21-25 AADBB 26-31DADBDA
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