英语语法(牛津版)第八章 关系代词与关系从句

发布时间:2016-10-4 编辑:互联网 手机版

72 限定性关系从句

这类从句修饰前面的名词,使其有别于其他同类名词。这类从句对清楚了解所修饰名词的特征是必不可少的:

The man who told me this refused to give me his name.

告诉我这件事的那个人拒不说出他的姓名。

who told me this是关系从句。如果省略,句中所提到的那个人是谁就不清楚了。要注意,在被修饰的名词和限定性关系从句之间不加逗号。

限定性关系从句常常跟在the+名词之后,但也可以用于a/ an+名词、不加the的复数名词、代词all,none,anybody, somebody等以及those之后。

a/an+名词、不带the的复数名词及somebody/someone/some- thing之后的从句有时只是间接地限定这些名词/代词。

在这种情况下名词/代词常常是动词或介词的宾语:

I met someone who said he knew you.

我碰到了说自己认识你的一个人。

The book is about a girl who falls in love with…

这本书是关于一个女孩,她爱上了……

有时这些从句由一个词或短语将它们与名词/代词分开:

Theres a man here who wants…

这儿有个男人,他想要……

I saw something in the paper which would interest you.

我在报上看到了一些你会感兴趣的东西。

但是,通常关系从句应该紧跟在它们修饰的名词或代词之后:

The noise that he made woke everybody up.

他弄出的响声把大家都吵醒了。

She was annoyed by something that I had said.

她为我说的某句话而不高兴。

74 指人的限定性关系从句

A主格

用who或that,通常用who:

The man who robbed you has been arrested.

抢劫你的那个人已经被逮捕了。

The girls who serve in the shop are the owners daughters.

在店里接待顾客的那几个女孩都是店老板的女儿。

Only those who had booked in advance were allowed in.

只有那些预先订票的人可以进去。

Would anyone who saw the accident please get in touch with the police?

凡亲眼看见发生事故的人请与警方联系。

但是在all,everyone,everybody,no one,nobody和those后面,也可用that替代who:

Everyone who/that knew him liked him.

认得他的人都喜欢他。

Nobody who/that watched the match will ever forget it.

看了这场比赛的人都不会忘记它。

B动词的宾语

用whom,who或that。

指人的关系代词的宾格形式是whom,但这被认为是十分正规的说法。在口语中经常使用who和that来代替whom(that 比who更常用);更加普遍的是索性把宾格关系代词省略:

The man whom I saw told me to come back today.

我见到的那个人叫我今天返回。或:

The man who I saw…

The man that I saw…

The man I saw…(省略关系代词)

The girls whom he employs are always complaining about their pay.

他雇用的那些女孩子们老是抱怨薪水太低。或:

The girls who he employs…

The girls that he employs…

The girls he employs…(省略关系代词)

C介词的宾语

用whom或that。

在正规的英语中介词通常位于关系代词之前,这时关系代词

必须使用whom这一形式:

the man to whom I spoke我跟说话的那个人

而在非正式的口语中经常把介词置于句末。这时用that来代替whom,但更加普遍的是索性省略关系代词:

the man who/whom I spoke to

the man that I spoke to

the man I spoke to

同样:

The man from whom I bought it told me to oil it.

卖给我这件东西的那个人嘱咐我给它上点油。或:

The man who/that I bought it from…

The man I bought it from…

The friend with whom I was travelling spoke French.

和我一起旅行的那个朋友讲法语。或:

The friend who/that I was travelling with…

The friend I was travelling with…

D所有格

关系代词的所有格只有whose这一种形式:

People whose rents have been raised can appeal.

那些被增加了租金的人可以上诉。

The film is about a spy whose wife betrays him.

这部电影是关于一个被自己妻子出卖的间谍的故事。

75 指物的限定性关系从句

A主语

用which或that,而which较正式:

This is the picture which/that cansed such a sensation.

这就是那部轰动一时的电影。

The stairs which/that lead to the cellar are rather slippery.

通向地窖的楼梯相当滑。

(另参见下面B。)

B动词的宾语

用which,that或干脆省略关系代词:

The car which/that I hired broke down.或:

我租用的那辆小汽车抛锚了。

The car I hired…

一般在all,everything,little,much,none,no,由no构成的复合词及形容词的最高级形式之后很少使用which,而常用that。如果这个关系代词是动词的宾语时也可省略:

All the apples that fall are eaten by the pigs.

掉在地上的苹果都让猪吃了。

This is the best hotel(that) I know.

这是我所知道的最好的饭店。

C介词的宾语

规范的结构是介词+which,但通常都把介词移到从句的末尾,用关系代词which,that或干脆省去关系代词:

The ladder on which I was standing began to slip.

我脚下的梯子开始向下滑动。或:

The ladder which/that I was standing on began to slip.

The ladder I was standing on began to slip.

D所有格

可以用whose+从句这种结构,但通常是用with+短语这种结构来代替它:

a house whose walls were made of glass用玻璃做墙的房子

a house with glass walls(译文同上)

E关系副词

用when,where,why。

注意:when可以代替用于指时间的in/on which:

the year when(=in which)he was born他出生的那一年

the day when(=on which)they arrived他们到达的那一天

where可以代替用于指地点的in/at which:the hotel/where(=in/at which) they were staying他们当时住的旅店why可代替for which:

The reason why he refused is…

他拒绝的理由是……

when,where和why有这种用法时叫做关系副词。

76 分裂句:it+be+名词/代词+限定性关系从句

It was Tom who helped us.

是汤姆帮助了我们。(不是比尔或杰克)

It was Ann that I saw .

我看见的是安。(不是玛丽)

如上文那样宾语是专有名词时,that要比who更常用。用于指其他一切宾语时,that是正确的:

Its the manager that we want to see.

我们要见的是经理。

It was wine that we ordered.

我们要的是红葡萄酒。(不是啤酒)

that常用于指非人称主语:

Its speed that causes accidents,not bad roads.

造成车祸的常是超速行驶,而不是路况不好。

77 用不定式或分词替代关系从句的情况

A不定式可用于下列各情况:

1在the first/second等词及the last/only等词之后,有时还在最高级形式之后:

the last man to leave the ship=the last man who left/leaves the ship最后离开船的那个人

the only one to understand=the only one who understood/understands唯一理解的人

注意:这里的动词不定式取代了主格代词+动词的结构。但它不能用来取代宾格代词+动词的结构,如the first man that we saw(我们看见的第一个人)中的从句就不能用动词不定式来代替,因为the first man to see(首先要见的人)这句话表示的是截然不同的意思。但如果that是被动句的主语,如the first man that was seen(第一个被看见的人),则可用一个动词不定式的被动形式:the first man to be seen(第一个被看见的人)来代替这一从句。

2句中含某种目的或许可的意义时:

He has a lot of books to read.

他有许多书要读。(许多可以读或必须要读的书)

She had something to do.

她有事要办。(一件她可以办或必须办的事)

They need a garden to play in.

他们需要有一个可供玩耍的花园。(他们可以在里面玩耍的一个花园)

注意:这里的动词不定式取代了动词+宾格关系代词的结构。有人可能会认为动词不定式的这两种用法会引起混乱,实际上这种情况很少出现,因为句中的其他部分会使动词不定式的含义变得很清楚。the first man to see这一短语本身可以理解成the first man that we must see(我们要见的第一个人,man是宾语)或the first man who saw(第一个见到某种别的人或物的人,man是主语),而当它成为句子的一部分时,其含义就显而易见了。

The first man to see is Tom.相当于:

The first man that we must see is Tom.

我们首先要见的人是汤姆。

但是:

The first man to see me was Tom.相当于:

The first man who saw me was Tom.

第一个看到我的人是汤姆。

B现在分词可用于下列各种情况:

1从句中的主要动词是进行时态时:

People who are/were waiting for the bus often shelter/sheltered in my doorway.相当于:

People waiting for the bus often shelter/sheltered…

等公共汽车的人们常常在我家门口躲风避雨。

2从句中动词表示一个习惯性或连续性的动作时:

Passengers who travel/travelled in this bus buy/bought their tickets in books.相当于:

Passengers travelling…

乘这路公共汽车的乘客买订成小本的车票。

Boys who attend/attended this school have/had to wear uniform.相当于:

Boys attending…

在这个学校就学的男生必须穿校服。

a law which forbids/forbade the import=a law forbidding the import一条禁止进口……的法律

a notice which warns/warned people…=a notice warning people…一张警告民众……的通告

an advertisement which urges/urged…=an advertisement urging…一条鼓励(人们)……的广告

同样:

a petition asking…一份要求……的请愿书

a letter ordering/demanding/telling…一封命令/要求/通知……的信

a placard protesting…一块抗议……的标语牌

placards protesting…一些抗议……的标语牌

3从句中的主要动词表示一种愿望,即句中动词是wish,desire, want,hope等(但不是like)时:

people who wish/wished to go on the tour=people wishing to go on the tour希望参加这次旅游的人

fans who hope/hoped for a glimpse of the star=fans hoping for a glimpse of the star希望看一眼这位明星的影迷

4含有上述动词之一或者含有表示知道、考虑的任何动词(例如know,think,believe,expect)的非限定性关系从句(参见下面第78节),也同样可以由一个分词短语来代替:

Peter,who thought the journey would take two days,said…相当于:

Peter,thinking the journey would take two days,said…

彼得认为旅行需要两天时间,他说……

Tom,who expected to be paid the following week,offered…相当于:

Tom,expecting to be paid the following week,offered…

汤姆预计在下周能得到付款,他提出……

Bill,who wanted to make an impression on Ann,took her to…相当于:

Bill,wanting to make an impression on Ann,took her to…

比尔想给安留下一个好印象,他带她到……

78 非限定性关系从句

A非限定性关系从句位于确定的名词之后。因此它对这类名词不作限定性描述,仅对该词作进一步说明作为补充而已。它不同于限定性关系从句,在句中并非必不可少,即使省略也不会引起意义上的混乱。它不同于限定性关系从句之处还在于它与被说明的名词之间用逗号隔开。非限定性关系从句中的关系代词绝对不能省略。这种句子结构相当正规,在书面语中用得比口语中多。

B用于非限定性关系从句中的关系代词:

79 指人的非限定性关系从句

A主语

只能用who。注意逗号:

My neighbour,who is very pessimistic,says there will be no apples this year.

我的邻居极为悲观,他说今年苹果将不会有收成。

Peter,who had been driving all day,suggested stopping at the next town.

彼得开了整整一天车,他建议在下一个城镇停留。

这一类紧接在句子的主语之后的从句主要见于书面英语。在

口语里常常这么说:

My neighbour is very pessimistic and says…

我的邻居很悲观,并说……

Peter had been driving all day,so/and he suggested…

彼得开了整整一天车,因此他建议……

但位于句中较后部分的从句,即在主要动词的宾语之后的从句,在口语中是相当普遍的:

Ive invited Ann,who lives in the next flat.

我已经邀请了安,她就住在隔壁的套房里。

从句跟在介词+名词之后也较为普遍:

I passed the letter to Peter,who was sitting beside me.

我把信递给了彼得,他就坐在我旁边。

B动词的宾语

用whom,who。

这类宾格代词在句中不能省略。尽管有时在日常口语中用

who作宾格关系代词,但正确的形式应是whom:

Peter,whom everyone suspected,turned out to be innocent.

彼得,大家都怀疑他,结果证明是无罪的。

如上所示,在这个位置的非限定性关系从句在口语中是不常用的。通常很可能这么说:

Everyone suspected Peter,but he turned out to be innocent.

大家都怀疑彼得,但结果证明他是无罪的。

但在口语中常见到非限定性关系从句出现在句中较后的位置,即在主要动词的宾语之后或介词+名词之后:

She wanted Tom,whom she liked,as a partner;but she got Jack,whom she didnt like.

她想要她所喜欢的汤姆作为伴侣,可是却得到了她所不喜欢的杰克。

She introduced me to her husband,whom I hadnt met before.

她把我介绍给她丈夫,我以前没见过他。

C 介词的宾语

用whom。

这个代词在句中不能省略,介词常常位于它之前:

Mr Jones,for whom I was working,was very generous about overtime payments.

琼斯先生,我当时给干活的那位,常是很慷慨地付给加班加点的报酬。

然而把介词移到从句之后也是可以的。这在口语中是非常普

遍的,此时who往往取代whom:

Mr Jones,who/whom I was working for,…

如果从句中含有一个表示时间或地点的短语,该短语要留在

从句之末:

Peter,with whom I played tennis on Sundays,was fitter than me.

彼得,星期天我常跟打网球的那位,身体比我健康。

这个句子可改为:

Peter,who/whom I played tennis with on Sundays,was fitter than me.

D 所有格

用 whose。

Ann,whose children are at school all day,is trying to get a job.

安的孩子们整天都在学校,所以她在想办法找份工作。

This is George,whose class you will be taking

这一位是乔治,你就要接他的课。

在口语中,很可能这么说:

Anns children are at school all day,so she…

This is George.You will be taking his class.

80 all,both,few,most,several,some 等+of+whom/which

这种形式可以用于指人,也可用于指事物。见以下例句。括号中给出的是不那么正式的同义说法。

Her sons,both of whom work abroad,ring her up every week.

她的两个儿子,都在国外工作,他们每周都给她打电话来。

(Both her sons work abroad,but they ring her up every week.)He went with a group of people,few of whom were correctly equipped for such a climb.

他和一队人一起去了,其中没有几个人配有进行这样一次登山的适当装备。

(He went with a group of people;few of them…)

The buses,most of which were already full,were surrounded by an angry crowd.

公共汽车大多数都已经挤满了人,它们被愤怒的人群包围着。

(st of the buses were full,and/but they were surrounded by an angrycrowd.)

I met the fruit-pickers,several of whom were university students.

我遇到了摘水果的人们,其中有几个人是大学生。

(I met the fruit-pickers;several of them were…)

I picked up the apples,some of which were badly bruised.

我拣起那些苹果,其中有一些伤得很厉害。

(I picked up the apples;some of them…)

The house was full of boys,ten of whom were his own grandchildren.

屋子里挤满了小男孩,其中有十个是他自己的孙辈。(The house was full of boys;ten of them…)

81 指物的非限定性关系从句

A 主格

用which,这里不用that:

That block,Which cost£5 million to build,has been empty fof years.

那个街区,就是花费了500万英镑建起来的那个,已经空置了多年了。

The 8∶15 train,which is usually very punctual,was late today.

8点15分的列车通常是正点的,今天晚点了。

口语中往往可能这么说:

That block cost£5 million to build and has been empty for years.

那个街区花费了500万英镑建成,已经空置了多年了。

This 8∶15 train is usually punctual,but It was late today.

8点15分的列车通常总是正点的,但是今天晚点了。

B 宾格

用which,这里不用that,而且which决不能省略:

She gave me this jumper,which she had knitted herself.

她送给我这件羊毛衫,这是她亲手织的。或:

She gave me this jumper;she had knitted it herself.These books,which you can get at any bookshop,will give you all the in- formation you need.

这几本书,你可以在任何书店买到的,会向你提供你所需要的一切资料。或:

These books will give you all the information you need.You can get them at any bookshop.

C 介词的宾语

介词位于which之前或者位于从句之后,但不那么正式:

Ashdown Forest,through which well be driving,isnt a forest any longer.

阿斯顿森林,我们即将驱车通过,已经不再是森林了。或:

Ashdown Forest,which well be driving through,isnt a forest any longer.

His house,for which he paid£10,000,is now worth£50,000.

他花了一万英镑买的房子,现在值五万英镑。或:

His house,which he paid£10,000 for,is now…

D 与短语动词连用的which

像下面的短语动词look after,look forward to,put up with(参见第三十八章)都应被看做一个整体,即介词/副词不应与动词分开:

This machine,which I have looked after for twenty years,is still working perfectly.

这台机器我已经照管了20年,现在仍然没一点儿毛病。

Your inefficiency,which we have put up with far too long,is beginning to annoy our customers.

我们对你的不称职容忍得太久,而顾客也开始对此感到不满意了。

E 所有格

用whose或of which。

whose一般用来指动物和事物,of which可以用来指物,但是

除在很正式的英语中之外,比较罕见。

His house,whose windows were all broken,was a depressing sight.

他的房子窗户无一完好,一派令人心酸的景象。

The car,whose handbrake wasnt very reliable,began to slide backwards.

那辆车的手闸不太可靠,车开始向后滑动。

82 连接性关系从句

连接性关系代词为who,whom,whose,which。逗号的用法跟非限定从句中的用法相同。连接性关系从句不修饰它们前面的名词,而是继续往下叙述。它们通常位于主要动词的宾语之后:

I told Peter,who said it wasnt his business.

我告诉了彼得,他说这事与他无关。

或者位于介词+名词之后:

I threw the ball to Tom,who threw it to Ann.

我把球扔给汤姆,他又把球扔给安。

这些关系代词通常可以由and/but+he/she等取代:

I threw the ball to Tom and he threw it…

I told Peter,but he said…

所以,一个处于这个位置上的从句究竟是非限定性从句还是连接性从句有时很难区分。但学习者没有必要做出这种判断,因为这两种形式基本上是相同的。

下面就连接性关系从句再举若干例子:

He drank beer,which made him fat.相当于:

He drank beer,and it made him fat.

他喝啤酒,因此发胖了。

We went with Peter,whose car broke down before we were halfwaythere.相当于:

We went with Peter but his car broke down before we were halfway there.

我们和彼得一起去的,但是还没走到半路他的车子就抛了锚。

如第80节所述,可以用one/two等或few/several/some等+of+whom/which结构:

I bought a dozen eggs,six of which broke when I dropped the box.

我买了一打鸡蛋,六个在我失手掉了盒子时摔碎了。

He introduced me to his boys,one of whom offered to go with me.

他把我介绍给他的男孩们,有一个男孩子自愿提出和我一起去。

The lorry crashed into a queue of people,several of whom had to have hospital treatment.

卡车冲进了一队人之中,其中有几个不得不住院治疗。

which也可以代表整个从句:

The clock struck thirteen,which made everyone laugh.

时钟敲了13下,这使大家都笑了起来。

He refused to do his share of the chores,which annoyed the others.

他拒绝干他那一份活儿,这使其他的人很恼火。(他的拒绝使他们恼火。)

The rain rattled on the roof all night,which kept us awake.

雨点整夜敲打着屋顶,这使我们未能入睡。

She was much kinder to her youngest child than she was to the others, which made the others jealous.

她对最小的孩子要比对其他的孩子疼爱得多,这引起了别的孩子的妒忌。

83 what(关系代词)和which(连接关系词)

what(= the thing that/the things that所……的事情):

what we saw astonished us.相当于:

he things that we saw astonished us.

我们所看到的事使我们感到惊讶。

When she sees what you have done she will be furious.相当于:

When she sees the damage that you have done she will be furious.

她要是看到你造成的损坏,她会大发雷霆的。

请务必不要将关系代词what与连接关系词which混淆。记住,which必须用来指前面一个句子中的一个词或一组词。而

what不指前面的任何东西。再者,what常常是动词的宾语,

然而which则常常是动词的主语:

He said he had no money,which was not true.

他说他没有钱,这不是实话。

Some of the roads were flooded,which made our journey more difficult.

一些道路被水淹了,这给我们的旅行造成了更多的麻烦。

(参见第82节。)

84 关系从句中的逗号

请记住限定性关系从句不用逗号同前面断开。注意下面例句中加上逗号以后意思上产生的变化:

(a)The travellers who knew about the floods took another road.

知道发大水的那些游客改道走了。

(b)The travellers,who knew about the floods,took another road.

游客们知道发了大水,都改道走了。

在(a)中有一个限定性关系从句,它对名词travellers的范围作了一定的限制。这个句子的意思是“只有那些知道发了大水

的游客改道走了”,并暗示有些别的不知道这一情况的游客仍走现已被水淹的道路。在(b)中有一个非限定性关系从句,它对前面的名词没有起任何限制作用,这句话暗含的意思是“游客们都知道发了大水并改道走了”。

(c)The boys who wanted to play football were disappointed when it rained.

想踢足球的那些男孩子因为下雨而感到失望。

(d)The boys,who wanted to play football,were disappointed…

那些男孩子想踢足球,对……感到失望。

(c)句中的暗含意思是只有一部分男孩希望踢足球。可以推定有一些男孩子对于下不下雨并不在乎。(d)句中的含义是所有的男孩都想踢足球,并都因下雨而感到失望。

(e)The wine which was in the cellar was ruined.

地窖里的那些酒全都坏了。

(f)The wine,which was in the cellar,was ruined.

酒放在地窖里,全变坏了。

(e)句意味着只有一些酒变坏了或可以推定一些放在别处的

酒大概没有坏。(f)句明确说明所有的酒都放在地窖里而且全都变坏了。

85 whoever,whichever,whatever,whenever,wherever,however

这些词具有几种不同的含义,可以引导关系从句和其他从句。尽管其他从句严格说不属于本章范围,但是看来最好还是把这些带ever的形式放在一起讲。

A whoever(代词)和whichever(代词和形容词)的意思可以是“the one who”,“he who”,“she who”:

Whoever gains the most points wins the competition.

谁得分最多,谁就赢得比赛。

Whichever of them gains the most points wins.

他们中哪一个得分最多,哪一个就赢。

Whichever team gains the most points wins.

哪个队得分最多,哪个队就赢。

Whoever gets home first starts cooking the supper.

谁先到家,谁就开始做晚饭。

Whichever of us gets home first starts cooking.

我们当中不管谁先到家,就开始做饭。

Whoever cleans your windows doesnt make a good job of it.

不管是谁擦洗你的窗户,他都没干好。

B whatever(代词和形容词),whenever,wherever:

You can eat what/whatever You like(anything you like).

你喜欢什么就可以吃什么。

When you are older you can watch whatever programme you like.

等你长大了,你爱看什么节目就可以看什么节目。

My roof leaks when/whenever it rains(every time it rains).

一下雨(每次下雨),我的房顶就漏。

You will see this product advertised everywhere/wherever you go.

无论你到哪里,都能看到这种产品的广告。

Go anywhere/wherever you like.

你愿意去哪儿就去哪儿。

C whoever,whichever,whatever,whenever,wherever,however都可以是 no matter who…(不论……)的意思:

If I say‘ heads,I win;tails you lose,I will win whatever happens/ whichever way the coin falls.

如果我说“头,我赢;尾,你输”,那么无论什么情况(无论硬币落下后哪一面朝上)我都会赢。

Whatever happens dont forget to write.

无论怎样别忘了写信。

Ill find him,wherever he has gone.

无论他到哪里去了,我都要找到他。(不论他去了哪儿)

whatever you do经常被置于要求/命令之前或之后以强调其重要性:

Whatever you do,dont mention my name.

无论如何,不要提起我的名字。

however是程度副词,常和形容词或另一副词连用:

Id rather have a room of my own,however small(it is),than share a room.

无论房间多么小,我宁愿一个人住一间,而不愿意与别人合住一个房间。

However hard I worked,she was never satisfied.

无论我多么努力地工作,她从来没满意过。

D whatever,wherever可以表示说话人不知情或者不关心:

He lives in Wick,wherever that is.

他住在威克,谁知道那地方在哪儿。(我不知道威克在哪里,也不感兴趣。)

He says hes a phrenologist,whatever that is.

他说他是一个颅相学家,谁知道是干什么的。(我不知道那是干什么的,也不感兴趣。)

who ever,when ever,what ever等等也可以分开写成两个字,但意思产生了变化:

-I lost seven kilos in a month.

-How ever did you lose so much in such a short time?

-一个月内我体重减轻了七公斤。

-在这么短的时间里你怎么会瘦那么多呢?

Bill(suspiciously):I know all about you.

比尔(怀疑地):我知道你的底细。

Tom(indignantly):What ever do you mean?

汤姆(怒气冲冲地):你到底是什么意思?

Where ever did you buy your wonderful carpets?