1. The city was beautiful? We spent our vacation there?
The city where we spent our vacation was beautiful?
2. That is the restaurant? I will meet you there?
That is the restaurant where I will meet you?
3. The town is small? I grew up there?
The town where I grew up is small?
4. That is the drawer? I keep my newpapers there?
That is the drawer where I keep my newspapers?
5. Monday is the day? We will come then?
Monday is the day? When we will came?
6. 7∶05 is the time My plane arrives then?
7∶05 is the time when my plane arrives?
7. 1960 is the year? The revolution took place then?
1960 is the year when the revolution took place?
8. July is the month? The weather is usually the hottest then?
July is the month when the weather is usually the hottest?
在定语从句中又可分为两大类定语从句,即限制性定语从句和非限制性定语从句。
① 限制性定语从句是先行词在意义上不可缺少的定语,如果去掉的话,主句的意思就不完整,意义就表述不明。这种句型一般定语从句紧接先行词,如: I was the only person in my office who was invited?
② 非限制性定语从句。它与主句的关系不十分密切,只是对其附加说明,也就是讲即便去掉定语从句,句意也不受影响,仍然清晰明了。这样的定语从句要在它和 主句之间加一逗号分开。且关系代词不引导这种非限制性定语从句,如: Abraham Lincoln, who led the United States through these years, was shot on April 14, 1865 at a theatre in washington? D. C. 又如:Galileo lived in the city of Pisa, where there is a leaning tower about 180 feet high?
(二) 正误辨析
[误] I won't tell you the name of the person who teach me English?
[正] I won't tell you the name of the person who teaches me English?
[析] 在定语从句中,关系代词作主语时,从它本身看不出其数的形式,这时要由它的先行词决定。这里who 应由 the person 单数决定,应该用单数谓语动词。又如:I who am a student? want to find a spare time job?这里的 who 应与 I 是一致的,所以其谓语动词应该用am。
[误] We talked about the things and the people who we met during the Second World War?
[正] We talked about the things and the people that we met during the Second World War?
[析] 这里的关系代词不要用 who, 因为其先行词有两个一个是 things (物),而另一个是people (人),这时既不可用 who, 又不可用 which, 因前者只能用于先行词是人的情况下,而后者则用于先行词是物的情况下,所以只能用 that, 因为它的先行词既可以是人又可以是物。
[误] The book, that I bought yesterday, was very good?
[正] The book, which I bought yesterday, was very good?
[析] 先行词与定语从句被逗号分割开来时,即作为非限制性定语从句。在非限制性定语从句中 which, when, who, whom, where, when, whose 等都可以和限制性定语从句中的作用一样,而独有 that 不易用于非限制性定语从句。
[误] The dictionary which I lent it yesterday is a very useful tool?
[正] The dictionary which I lent yesterday is a very useful tool?
[析] 关系代词在定语从句中是要起语法作用的,它不是作主语就是作宾语。虽然在作宾语时它的位置由原来的宾语位置移到了句首,但它的作用依然存在,而且在原宾语位置上不能再出现宾语。
[误] The teacher I want to learn English from is the one which comes from America
[正] The teacher I want to learn English from is the one who comes from America
[析] the one, anyone, those 作代词并且是指某人、物时,其关系代词不能用 which 应用 who。
[误] This is the room in that the old man lives?
[正] This is the room in which the old man lives?
[正] This is the room which the old man lives in?
[正] This is the room that the old man lives in?
[析] that 不能紧跟在介词后作介词宾语,但如果介词不前置仍放于句尾,则可用 that 作引导词,而且可以省略。如: This is the room the old man lives in?
[误] I can do everything which is good for you?
[正] I can do everything that is good for you?
[析] 在先行词是 all, much, little, something, everything, anything, nothing, none, the one 等不定代词时,虽然它们指的是物体,但不要用 which 而用 that 作定语从句的引导词。
[误] The only thing which the students can do is studying hard?
[正] The only thing that the students can do is studying hard?
[析] 在先行词前有 only, any, few, little, no, all, one of 等词修饰时,虽然先行词指的是物,也不要用 which 作关系代词,而要用 that。
[误] This is the first American film which I've ever seen?
[正] This is the first American film that I've ever seen?
[析] 在先行词是序数词,或由序数词修饰时,其关系代词不可用 which? 这样的用法还有在形容词最高级修饰的先行词之后,如: This is the best book that I have ever seen
[误] He is from Africa, that we can see from the colour of the skin?
[正] He is from Africa, as we can see from the colour of the skin?
[析] 当 as 或 which 引导非限制性定语从句时,它可能没有明确的先行词,它们所指代的是前面整个句子。如例题应译为他是从非洲来这个事情是可以从其肤色上看出的。