放在主句后面作非限制定语从句时(前面一般加","号),"when"一般译为"此时","那时", 例如:
The meeting will be put off until next month, when we will have made all the preparations. (会议将推迟到下月,那时一切就准备就绪了。)
另一个关系副词是why,由于它固定与the reason搭配, 即: the reason why,不难理解,一般也不作为考试的重点。例如:
This is the reason why the electronic computer cannot entirely replace man. 这就是(为什么)电子计算机不能完全代替人的原因。
whose (= of which / whom):做先行词(不管是人还是物)的定语,汉语为"…的",不要考虑是否是限制性或非限制性定语从句, 例如:
Pay attention to that boy whose temperature is very high. (理论上也可以写成:Pay attention to that boy the temperature of whom is very high. 注意那个男孩,他的体温很高。(非限制性) / 注意那个体温很高的男孩。(限制性)
介词 + which (whom)
先看两个句子:
This is the house. He has lived in the house for over 30 years.
变为↓定语从句
This is the house in which he has lived for over 30 years.
上述句子中,先行词在从句中充当介词宾语,形成"介词 + which / whom"的形式,考试时要求作出1)要不要介词;2)若要,使用什么介词的判断。由于英语中介词搭配多为习惯用法,没有多少规律可循,因此这是定语从句考试的一个难点。
记住四个字:瞻前顾后
瞻前:先看看先行词一般与什么介词搭配,例如:
There are occasions _____ which joking is not permissible.
→ Joking is not permissible _____ (certain) occasions.
常与occasion搭配的介词是什么?on,即:
Joking is not permissible on (certain) occasions. (有的场合是不容许开玩笑的。)
↓
There are occasions on which joking is not permissible.
顾后:看看谓语动词常与什么介词搭配,例如:
This car, ____ which I paid a lot of money, is now out of date.
→ I paid a lot of money ______ this car.
Pay (money) for something 是一个固定的搭配,因此应填介词 "for"
当A、B、C、D中出现 " 介词 + which / whom" 选项时,而你又确实看不懂时,应倾向于选择" 介词 + which / whom"的形式,例如:
The two elements _____ water is made are the gases oxygen and hydrogen.
A. that
B. which
C. with which
D. of which
倾向选择C、D;正确答案D,"be made of "(由…组成):
The two elements are gases (oxygen and hydrogen).
Water is made of the two elements.
两个句子一合并,便是该句选择。
(四)其他应注意的确问题:
(1) 同位语从句只能用"that"连接
常见的同位语先行词有:fact(事实), possibility(可能), idea(想法), belief(相信), doubt(疑问), news(消息), order(命令), promise(承诺), evidence(证据), suggestion(建议)等,例如:
Is there any possibility that all the villagers can send their children to school?(有没有这种可能,所有村民都能送他们的孩子上学?)
There can be no doubt that he is a qualified doctor.(毫无疑问,他是个合格的医生。)
(2) "as" 也可以做关系代词用于连接定语从句,特别是在"such…as…", "the same as…" 以及"正如…"的结构中,例如:
I have never seen a thing as he described. (我从未见过他所描述的那种事。)
As was expected, the performance was a great success. (正如所料,演出获得了巨大成功。)
把该句理解为:The performance was a great success, which was expected,就比较容易理解as的这种用法。
将定语从句的连接用三句话归纳一下:
↗ 人用who / whom
(1)先行词在从句中当主、宾、表语 →定语用whose
↘ 物用that (= which)/ 非限制用which
↗地点状语用:where
(2)先行词在从句中当 →原因状语(reason)用:why
↘ 时间状语用:when
(3)介词 + which / whom结构:瞻前顾后