which

1.关于关系代词which跟关系代词that的区别，参见that 9

2.关于关系代词which跟关系代词who(m)的区别，下面几点该注意：

（1）army，company，family，party等词在被当作单数的时候，该用which指它们，在被当作复数的时候该用who(m)指它们，不可混用。如下面第一句和第二句都不错，第三句和第四句却不对：

• The party, which is a large one, has lost its way.
• The party, who are all children, have lost their way.
• The party, who is a large one, has lost its way.
• The party, which are all children, have lost their way.

（2）指国家名称通常用which，偶尔用who，动词该用单数。例如：They have visited China, which（偶尔用who）they believe is a beautiful country.

（3）人以外的动物往往被当作阳性或阴性。例如：The dog is running before his master. 和The cat is sitting beside her mistress. 但在被当作阳性或阴性的时候却往往也被which所指代。例如：The dog, which is a big one, is running before his master. 和The cat, which is black and white, is sitting beside her mistress.

（4）船通常被当作阴性，但被which所指代。例如：The ship, which is a big one, is on her way to a distant country.

3.关系代词which往往没有固定的某词做它的先行项，却指前面的短语或从句里所表示的意思。例如：

• He said he was ill, which was true.
• They lost their way, which delayed them considerably. （注意这句里的which并不指way，却指lost their way）
• I was very useful to him, which he realized.
• He is very easy to get acquainted with, which is not a traditional English trait.

这样用法的which一定属于单数形式，一定用在非限定从句里。

这样用法的which往往用在句首，指前面所表示的意思，往往有些滑稽性质。例如：

• He said he was ill. Which was true.
• They lost their way. Which delayed them considerably.

有时竟然用在一个段落的开首。例如：

• I called on a friend the other day. He was in bed and looked rather pale. He said he was ill.
• Which was true.

4.下面四句里用which而不用who，因为所指的不是“人”而是那种人的“性质”：

• He was dressed like an artist, which he was not.
• She looked like an actress, which she was.
• He talked like a native - which he hardly was.
• He is not the self-seeking man which he is generally represented to be. （这句里的which最好改作that）

5.下面每组里的第一句、第二句和第三句都不错，第四句不对。第二组里的第三句不很自然：

• He showed me some books, one of which was a selection of short essays.
  He showed me some books; one of them was a selection of short essays.
  He showed me some books, one of them being a selection of short essays.
  He showed me some books, one of which being a selection of short essays.
• He lost his temper, which proved very annoying.
  He lost his temper; this(或that)proved very annoying.
  He lost his temper, this(或that)proving very annoying.
  He lost his temper, which proving very annoying.

注意每组里的第二句里用分号，第三句里用逗号。

6.下面第一句里的which用作主格，第二句里的which用作宾格，第三句里的which同时用作主格和宾格，所以不对：

• He gave me a watch, which is made of gold.
• He gave me a watch, which I keep to this day.
• He gave me a watch, which is made of gold and I keep to this day. （该在and后面加上which）

7.比较下面三句：

• This is a dictionary of English usage, which if you use constantly you will learn to write correctly.
• This is a dictionary of English usage, which if you use constantly you will find very useful.
• This is a dictionary of English usage, which if you use constantly will prove very useful.

第一句语法不错，但不很自然，可以改作This is a dictionary of English usage, if you use which constantly, you will learn to write correctly。但也不很自然，该改作This is a dictionary of English usage, from which you will learn to write correctly if you use it constantly或This is a dictionary of English usage, the constant use of which will help you to learn to write correctly。原句里的which所引导的从句同时被if所联结，语法不错，但毕竟不是正常的英语。第二句里的which既做use的宾语，又做find的宾语，不合语法，该改作This is a dictionary of English usage, which, if you use it constantly, you will find very useful。第三句里的which既做use的宾语，又做will prove的主语，不合语法，该改作This is a dictionary of English usage, which, if you use it constantly, will prove very useful。

8.下面每组里的两句意思相同，似乎第一句不及第二句自然：

• Bob had no money with which to buy books.
  Bob had no money to buy books with.
• This is a good village in which to live.
  This is a good village to live in.
• What is the proper age at which to marry?
  What is the proper age to marry at?

9.下面两句里的which都指前面的形容词：

• He is sometimes impatient, which no teacher should be.
• She thinks his answer incorrect, which it probably is.

10.下面两句里的which指它引导的从句的后面的名词从句：

• I told him, which was true, that I was proud of his acquaintance.
• He could not tell me, which I was anxious to know, whether the book was still in print.

11.下面两句里的which泛指下文所讲的话：

• He went, and, which is more surprising, actually won the prize.
• I have the letter, and, which is more, I mean to keep it.

12.下面每组里的两句意思相同：

• This English grammar, the greater part of which deals with words, phrases, and constructions, was published not long ago.
  This English grammar, of which the greater part deals with words, phrases, and constructions, was published not long ago.
• There are only a few words in the lesson the spelling of which may cause trouble to beginners.
  There are only a few words in the lesson of which the spelling may cause trouble to beginners.

13.比较下面每组里的两句：

• Which is he reading?([这几本书、几篇文章、几个故事等中间]他正在读哪一本[或篇、个等]?)
  What is he reading?(他正在读什么?)
• Which book is he reading?([这几本书中间]他正在读哪一本?)
  What book is he reading?(他正在读什么书?)
• Which is your teacher of English?([这几个人中间]哪一个是你的英语教师?)
  Who is your teacher of English?(谁是你的英语教师?)

但下面两句意思相同：

• Which will you have, tea or coffee?
• What will you have, tea or coffee?