定语从句在句中的作用相当于形容词,修饰一个名词或名词短语,故又称为形容词从句。定语从句通过关系代词或关系副词与名词(或名词短语)联系在一起。
关系代词指代被修饰词,即先行词,在从句中必须充当主语、宾语或表语成分。
注意:当关系代词作宾语时,可以省略。
含定语从句的复合句实际上是由两个句子构成的,这两个句子中有一个词语或短语意义是相同的。
□ The trend is not restricted to rich students . They have the money to travel.
→The trend is not restricted to rich students who have the money to travel.
这一趋势并不仅限于有钱去旅游的富学生。
□ In some cases an employee is working in a job . It suits neither their skills nor their personality.
→In some cases an employee is working in a job that suits neither their skills nor their personality.
在某些情况下,员工的工作既不适合他们的技能,也不适合他们的个性。
□ Personally, I think that the amount of money is more justified than the huge earning of movie stars. Such sports stars make the money .
→Personally, I think that the amount of money (that) such sports stars make is more justified than the huge earning of movie stars.
我个人认为这些体育明星赚的钱比电影明星的巨额收入更合理。
□ It is something . An individual goes on learning it throughout life.
→It is something that an individual goes on learning throughout life.
这是一个人一生都在学习的东西。
注意:定语从句中,当先行词是指物的不定代词时,关系代词用that。
which在定语从句中也可以作定语↓↓
□ The percentage of university students in Singapore increased dramatically between 1990 and 2000 , and during the 10 years ’ time, that in Thailand also had a rapid rise.
→The percentage of university student in Singapore increased dramatically between 1990 and 2000 , during which time that in Thailand also had a rapid rise.
1990年至2000年间,新加坡大学生的比例急剧上升,而在此期间,泰国大学生的比例也迅速上升。
whose的用法↓↓
whose相当于sb.’s或sth.’s,既可以指人也可以指物。
□ Children are taken care of by their grandparents. Children’s parents are working in cities.
→ Children whose parents are working in cities are taken care of by their grandparents.
父母在城市工作的孩子由他们的祖父母照料。
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,主句的意思就不完整或失去意义;这种从句和主句关系十分密切,写作时不用逗号。非限制性定语从句和主句关系不是很密切,只是对先行词做些附加说明,如果去掉,主句的意思仍然清楚;这种从句,写作时往往用逗号分开。
□ Unfortunately, professionals from other fields are paid so much less that it is hard to disagree with the statement. They make a much greater contribution to human society.
→Unfortunately, professionals from other fields , who make a much greater contribution to human society, are paid so much less that it is hard to disagree with the statement.
令人遗憾的是,其他领域的专业人士对人类社会做出了更大的贡献,但是他们的报酬却少得多,这让人们很难不同意这种说法。
注意:当which引导非限制性定语从句时,可以指代前面先行词的意思,也可以指代前面整个句子的意思。
□ This approach will achieve more than harsh punishments . These harsh punishments might entail many negative consequences.
→This approach will achieve more than harsh punishments , which might entail many negative consequences.
这种方法会比严厉的惩罚更有成效,因为严厉的惩罚可能会造成许多负面的影响。
□ Making the punishment fit the crime is a useful notion , and this would see children being made to pick up rubbish they have dropped, clean up graffiti they have drawn, or apologise to someone they have hurt.
→ Making the punishment fit the crime is a useful notion , which would see children being made to pick up rubbish they have dropped, clean up graffiti they have drawn, or apologise to someone they have hurt.
让惩罚与犯错相匹配是一个有用的概念,它可以让孩子们捡起他们扔的垃圾,清理他们的涂鸦,或者向他们伤害过的人道歉。
由于副词在句子中是附加成分,所以关系副词后是一个完整的句子。
□ I think this is less likely today . Today academic qualifications are essential for getting a reasonable career.
→I think this is less likely today , when academic qualifications are essential for getting a reasonable career.
我认为,如今这种情况不太可能发生了,现在学历对找到一份好工作至关重要。
□ Once a child goes to school, they are entering a wider community . In this community , teachers and peers will have just as much influence as their parents do at home.
→Once a child goes to school, they are entering a wider community in which/where teachers and peers will have just as much influence as their parents do at home.
孩子一旦上学,他们就进入了一个更广阔的社会,在这个社会里,老师和同龄人的影响力将不亚于他们的父母在家里的影响力。
□ The reason is that we consume so much more on a daily basis than families did in the past. For this reason we have so much packaging.
→ The reason for which/why we have so much packaging is that we consume so much more on a daily basis than families did in the past.
我们拥有如此多的包装的原因是我们每天比过去的家庭消费更多。
注意:当先行词为表示“模糊地点或抽象地点”的名词,如condition,point,position,activity,case,situation等,它们在定语从句中作地点状语时,用where引导从句。
□ When it comes to a situation , and in this situation children are allowed to choose what they like, they can think twice before making a final decision.
→When it comes to a situation in which children are allowed to choose what they like, they can think twice before making a final decision.
→When it comes to a situation where children are allowed to choose what they like, they can think twice before making a final decision.
当孩子们被允许选择他们喜欢的东西时,他们在做出最后决定之前可以三思。
1.关系代词前介词的确定
a.根据定语从句中动词所需要的某种习惯搭配来确定
□ There are a wide range of useful materials online , and students can turn to these useful materials online for solving their problems.
→There are a wide range of useful materials online to which students can turn for solving their problems.
网上有很多有用的资料,学生们可以通过这些资料来解决他们的问题。
b.依据先行词的某种习惯搭配来确定
□ Young children are allowed to play educational games , and in these educational games they can gain different knowledge and develop various skills.
→Young children are allowed to play educational games in which they can gain different knowledge and develop various skills.
→Young children are allowed to play educational games where they can gain different knowledge and develop various skills.
孩子们被允许玩益智游戏,在游戏中他们可以获得不同的知识以及发展不同的技能。
c.根据所表达的意思来确定
□ The government should provide funds for poor university students, and with the funds they can pay for tuition fees and receive higher education.
→The government should provide funds for poor university students, with which they can pay for tuition fees and receive higher education.
政府应该为贫困大学生提供资金,让他们可以支付得起学费而接受高等教育。
2.“名词/代词+介词+关系代词”结构
□ There are some solutions to this problem, and some of them are very effective.
→There are some solutions to this problem, some of which are very effective.
有一些解决这个问题的方法,其中一些非常有效。
如果先行词是way,后面的定语从句根据从句成分可以使用that/in which或省略引导词。
□ They have less respect for their teachers and refuse to obey school rules in the way their parents did.
他们不太尊重老师,也不像他们的父母那样遵守校规。
□ This has been driven by technological and scientific breakthroughs that are changing the whole way we view the world on an almost daily basis.
推动这一趋势的是几乎每天都在改变我们看待世界的整体方式的技术和科学突破。