定語從句的誤用及辨析

杜廣云

定語從句是中學階段的重要語法項目,也是考試的重點內容之一,但是有些同學在使用定語從句時總是把握不準。以下是學生經常出現的問題。

1. This is the book I bought it yesterday.

此句中先行詞book后的關系代詞that或which,因為在定語從句中作buy的賓語被省略了,如果再加it,就多了一個賓語,實屬畫蛇添足。

2. This is the factory where my father visited last year.

此句應將作地點狀語的關系副詞where改為關系代詞that或which,因為定語從句中visit是及物動詞,需要的是賓語而不是狀語。

比較:This is the factory where my father worked last year.

本句是正確的,因為此句中定語從句中的work是不及物動詞,不能直接加賓語,關系副詞where在這里作地點狀語。

又比較:This is the factory that/which my father worked in last year.

本句也是正確的,因為定語從句中work雖然是不及物動詞,但其后加了一個介詞in(不及物動詞+介詞,相當于及物動詞),所以關系代詞that或which作in的賓語。

3. I have two books, both of them are very interesting.

此句books后有逗號,說明后面接的是非限制性定語從句,應將人稱代詞them改為which。如果books后用句號,成為兩個簡單句,那么them就是正確的。即I have two books. Both of them are very interesting. 或者books后用連詞and,就成了一個并列句,也是正確的。即I have two books and both of them are very interesting.

4. I passed the National Entrance Examination, that made my parents very happy.

此句應將that改為which,因為that不能在非限制性定語從句中充當關系代詞使用。

5. This is the most interesting book which I have ever seen.

此句的關系代詞which應改為that。因為指物的先行詞被形容詞最高級或序數詞修飾時,關系代詞不能用which,只能用that。

又如:That was the first novel that I read last year.

6. This is one of the students who/that is good at English.

此句中的先行詞為students,是復數形式,其后的謂語動詞應為復數動詞,所以is應改為are。

試比較:This is the only one of the students who hat is good at English.

本句是正確的,因為此句中的先行詞為不定代詞one,是單數形式,所以定語從句中的系動詞用單數is是正確的。

7. All what I need is time.

此句中應將what改為that,因為當先行詞是all, everything, nothing等詞時,關系代詞用that. 另外,what是疑問代詞,而不是關系代詞。

又如:I can do all that I can to help you.

Everything that can be done has been done.

8. This is the film about that we talked just now.

此句的關系代詞that應改為which,當把介詞提到關系代詞前時,如果指物用關系代詞which,指人用whom,但如果將介詞后置,那么用that也是正確的。即:This is the film that we talked about just now.

9. It was yesterday when I bought the watch.

此句誤將強調句型當作定語從句。強調句型的結構為:It+be的形式(is或was)+被強調部分+that/who+其他成分。

此句應為:It was yesterday that I bought the watch.

又如:It was Tom that/who broke the glass.

10. He made a promise which he would buy me a dictionary.

此句把同位語從句誤當作定語從句,在同位語從句中用that連接,that不作任何成分,但不能省略。所以該句應為:He made a promise that he would buy me a dictionary.