定语从句是指一类由关系词(relative word)引导的从句,因为这类从句的句法功能多是做定语,所以被称为定语从句(attributive clause)或者说形容词性从句(adjective clause)。
定语从句可以分为限定性定语从句(紧跟先行词,与先行词之间不用逗号隔开)和非限定性定语从句(与先行词或主句间有逗号隔开,修饰先行词、整个主句或主句的一部分,仅起补充说明作用,若去掉,主句意思依然完整)。
定语从句的常见考点有:
- The news that we heard is not true.(定语从句)
- The news that the battle had been lost is not true.(同位语从句)
- I don’t know the reason why my friends dislike me.(定语从句)
- My friends dislike me because I’m handsome and successful.(原因状语从句)
- It is on the date that she went abroad.(强调句)
- It is the date when she went abroad.(定语从句)
- This is the book which I am looking for.(先行词为 the book ,引导词是 which)
- Sara is the one of the students who were late for class this morning.
- Sara is the only one of the students who was late for class this morning.
① that 指物,有时也可以指人;which 指物,不能指人。只能用 that 而不能用 which 的情况有:
- 先行词前有形容词最高级或序数词修饰时;
- 先行词前有 next, last, very, any, little, no等修饰时;
- 先行词是 all, much, little, none 等时;
- 先行词是不定代词 something, anything, nothing, everything时。
② 先行词是人+物时,关系词要用 that 而不用 which/who 。比如:
- They often talk about the people and the things that they like most.
③ 先行词本身是 that 时,一般用 which 引导定语从句。比如:
- The faeces contain nitrogen and it is that which fertilises the desert soil.
粪便含氮,而正是氮可以肥化荒芜的土地。
④ 在 who/which 开头的疑问句中,若要用关系代词引导定语从句,应用that 。比如:
- Who is the boy that won the gold medal?
⑤ 当关系词后面有插入语时,用 which 引导定语从句。比如:
- These are classic designs which, as I have told you, will fit in well anywhere.
⑥ which 可以引导非限定性定语从句,也可以放在介词后面,that 则不能。比如:
- He sat behind a table on which were half a dozen files.
⑦ as 引导定语从句,可以指代整个主句,位置可以在主句前,也可以在主句后。which 指代整个主句,只能放在主句后。比如:
- As is known to everybody, the moon tarvels round the earth once every month.
- The moon travels round the earth once every month, as/which is known to everybody.