李锁清
摘 要:定语从句中,关系代词和关系副词用法较多,为便于理解和掌握,本文就关系代词which与 that在定语从句中的用法异同及其个别特殊现象做一总结,以供读者参考。
关键词:关系代词;异同;特殊性
定语从句是英语语法教学中的重点和难点,其中关系代词which 和that 的用法更是较为复杂,为方便理解和掌握,笔者就关系代词which 和 that 的用法异同及其个别特殊现象归纳如下:
1 关系代词which与that用法异同
在定语从句中,当先行词指物时,关系代词which 与that 往往可以互换使用。
如:The car which (that)I hired broke down.
我租用的那辆小汽车抛锚了。
作为关系代词,“that”在定语从句中既可用作主语、宾语,也可作表语。(作宾语时可省去);既可指人亦可指物,但现今英语中多指物。
如1:A letter that is written in pencil is difficult to read.
用铅笔写的信很难读。(关系代词that 在从句中用作主语,指物)
2: He is no longer the simple-minded man that he was five years ago.
他已不再是5年前个头脑简单的他了。(关系代词that 在从句中表语,指人)
注:关系代词which 有时也可指人,指人时,一般指从事某种职业或是有某种特性、品质或才能的人。
如:He will become the man which his father wants him to be.
他将成为父亲所期望的人。
2 关系代词that与which特殊性
下列情况下多用“that”
①当先行词本身是指物的all / little / much / something 等不定代词时,关系代词一般用that而不用which:
如:Is there anything that I can do for you ?
有什么需要帮忙的吗?
②当先行词是物且被all / any / no / the same等修饰时,关系代词一般用that而不用which
如:No man that has common sense can believe it .
有常识的人不会相信这样的事。
③当先行词被序数词或形容词最高级修饰时,关系代词一般用that而不用which
如:This is the most interesting novel that I have ever read so far .
这是我至今为止看过的最有趣的小说。
④当先行词为并列的人或物时,关系代词要用that而不用which
如:They were talking about the persons and things that they saw in Russia .
他们在谈论他们在俄国看到的人和事。
⑤当先行词是特殊疑问词时,为避免“who…who…”,“which…which…”此类结构的重复起见,关系代词往往用that 来连接主从句
如:1:Who is the man that is standing by the door ?
靠门站立的那个人是谁?
2:Which of these steamers is the one that plies between Gaoxiong and Magong ?
这些船中哪一艘是航行于高雄到马公的?
⑥如果句首或句中有there be、here be、that is和it is 等结构时,关系代词常用that
如: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,(that常用于指非人称主语)
注:that在定语从句中有时也可以代替关系副词when / how或 why引导的定语从句,表示时间、地点、等原因,that也可省去。
如1:Do you still remember the day that (=when) he arrived ?
你还记得他到达的那一天吗?
2:That is the manner that (= how ) he deceived her.
他就是那样欺骗她的。
3:The reason that (= why ) he missed the train is that he got up late.
他未赶上火车的原因是由于起身晚了。
B:下列情况下多用“ which ”:
①在非限制性定语从句中,当关系代词指代物时,多用which而不用that。which可以做主语、宾语或表语,多数情况下意思同and this相似,有时也可指人。
如:1New Concept English is intended for foreign students, which is known to all of us.
《新概念英语》是为外国学生编写的,这是我们大家都知道的。(which作主语)
2She looks like a Russian, which you are not .
她看上去像俄国人,而你不像。(which作表语,指人)
②当关系代词是由“those + 复数名词”构成的定语从句时,关系代词常用“which”。
如:A shop should keep a stock of those goods which sell best .
商店里应存有最畅销的货物。
③当关系代词本身为that一词时,一般用which,(非正式英语中也可用that)。
如:This film is more interesting than that which we saw yesterday.
这部电影比我们昨天看过的更精彩。
④关系代词which在定语从句中充当介词宾语,且介词置于从句之首时,关系代词需用which。
如:This is the book for which you asked.
这是你要的书。
但在非正式文体中,如果介词置于从句之尾,关系代词which可换成that。
如:This is the car which (that) I told you about.
这就是我和你谈过的那辆汽车。
⑤在描述性的定语从句中,关系代词一般用which
如:Beijing,which was Chinas capital for more than 800 years, is rich in cultural relics.
北京曾是八百多年的中国首都,有很丰富的历史文化。
注: 但在非正式文体中,如果介词置于从句之尾,关系代词which可换成that。
如:This is the car which (that) I told you about.
这就是我和你谈过的那辆汽车。
参考文献
[1] 徐广联.大学英语语法讲座与测试,华东理工大学出版社,1998年
[2] 马富康.英语语法演练,上海交通大学出版社,1994年
[3] 浩瀚英语研究所编.双色表解中学英语,机械工业出版社,2002年
[4] 刘毅力.英文文法宝典,海南出版社,1998年