眾所周知,定語從句是高考中的一個重要考點,無論是閱讀理解、語法填空,還是寫作,都會涉及到它。同時定語從句也是高中英語教學的重點和難點(在人教課標版的教材中,有六個單元的語法與定語從句相關)。遺憾的是,不少學生沒有掌握定語從句中關系詞的選擇。筆者發現,定語從句關系詞的選擇可以這樣突破:明確易錯點,按照步驟解題。
一、高考真題再現
語法填空中,除2008年沒有考查定語從句外,每年都有一道題。
(2007年) While she was getting me settled into a tiny but clean room, the head of the village was tying up his horse to my car to pull it to a small town some 20 kilometers away 36 there was a garage.
答案為where,先行詞是town,它和關系詞被some 20 kilometers away 間隔開了。
(2009年) Jane paused in front of a counter 35 some attractive ties were on display.
答案為where,先行詞是counter,關系詞在從句中作狀語。
(2010年) He filled his leather container so that he could bring some back to an elder 32 had been his teacher.
答案為:who /that,先行詞是elder,關系詞在從句中作主語。
(2011年) Behind him were other people to 21 he was trying to talk,but after some minutes they walked away and sat near me,looking annoyed I didn’t want to be laughed at for talking to him but I didn’t like leaving him on his own either.
答案為whom,先行詞是people,關系詞在從句中作to 的賓語,且直接位于介詞to之后,只能用賓格whom。
(2012年) Of course whenever they turn to look at him,they had to look at Mary, 22 made her feel like a star.
答案為which,先行詞是前面的整一個句子,關系詞在從句中作主語。
二、注意幾個易錯點
根據教學中收集到學生的錯題,選擇定語從句的關系詞主要有以下幾個易錯點:
1. 找不準先行詞:當先行詞為整個句子(如2012年高考題) 或先行詞被間隔開(如2007年高考題) 時,考生往往會出錯,考生總是以為靠近關系詞的詞就是先行詞。
2. whose 的使用:可能填了其他關系副詞。
3. 關系代詞與關系副詞的區別:總是分不清從句中的謂語動詞是及物動詞還是不及物動詞。
4. 對一些先行詞太熟悉,易犯慣性思維錯誤,如看到先行詞是reason就直接使用why。
5. 非限制性定語從句的關系詞(如whose,who, which,where,when), 根據語法及句意決定使用哪一個。一些考生誤認為引導非限制性定語從句只能用which。
6. 與其他從句混淆了,使用how, what 之類的連詞。
三、解題步驟
首先確定定語從句的結構,從歷年的高考題來看,語法填空對定語從句的考查方式有如下兩種結構形式:
A. 名詞/代詞+________+句子;
B. 句子,+________+句子。
符合這種結構的可以用如下步驟解題:
1. 看從句的謂語動詞,判斷它是及物動詞(包括“不及物動詞+介詞”) 還是不及物動詞。
2. 若從句謂語是及物動詞(包括“不及物動詞+介詞”),就看謂動前后是否有主語和賓語。
(1)只要缺主語或賓語就用關系代詞。然后根據先行詞是人還是物,以及先行詞前面是否有特殊詞(如最高級,the first)修飾,來判斷使用who(主格), whom(賓格), that或which。
(2)若謂語前后已有主語和賓語,一般用關系副詞。以下結構都屬不缺主語和賓語了,該使用關系副詞。
①主語+謂語+賓語
②主語+被動式謂語
③there be句型
④主語+系動詞+表語
3. 若從句謂語是不及物動詞,缺主語時,用關系代詞;否則,用關系副詞。常見的不及物動詞有live,work,be born等。
注意:如果先行詞是表示時間的time,childhood等,用when;表示原因的reason,用why;是stage,situation,system,point,case等時,用where。
4. 雖然從句中已有主語和賓語,但也不一定是使用關系副詞,而是使用whose,因為先行詞和定語從句的主語是所屬關系。指“先行詞‘的’主語”,使用whose。如:I have a classmate,whose mother(這個同學的母親) is my former teacher.
從以上四個解題步驟來看,我們可以不用看懂整個句子,重點關注代表先行詞的關系詞在從句中所作成分(留意從句的謂語),自然就可以很快得出答案了。那么現在試試這種方法快速解題吧。
四、試一試
請在下列空格處填入一個適當的關系代詞或關系副詞。
1. Is this the factory ________ I visited last year?
2. Is this the factory _______ I worked last year?
3. Is this the factory _______ produces all kinds of TV sets.
4. Is this the very factory ______I visited last year?
5. Look out! Don’t get too close to the house ______roof is under repair.
6. This is the school ____ we studied together ten years ago.
7. I will never forget the day _______ we spent together.
8. I will never forget the day ________ we studied together.
9. This is the reason ________ he was absent.
10. This is the reason _______ can explain his absence.
11. I often thought of my childhood, ____ I lived on a farm.
12. Winter is the time of year ____ the days are short and nights are long.
13. In an hour,we can travel to places _____ would have taken our ancestors days to reach.
14. Women _______ drink more than two cups of coffee a day have a greater chance of having heart disease than those ________ don’t.
15. The owner of the cinema needed to make a lot of improvements and employ more people to keep it running,______ meant spending tens of thousands of pounds.
16.—Do you have anything to say for yourselves?
—Yes, there’s one point ________we must insist on.
17. We’re just trying to reach a point ____ both sides will sit down together and talk.
參考答案及解析:
1. which/that 先行詞是 factory, 關系詞在從句中作visited 的賓語。
2. where 先行詞是 factory,關系詞在從句中作狀語,因為work是不及物動詞。
3. which/that 先行詞是 factory, 關系詞在從句中作主語,從句中的produces是謂語動詞。
4. that 先行詞是 factory,關系詞在從句中作visited的賓語,但因為先行詞前面有very 修飾,所以只能填that。
5. whose 先行詞是house, 關系詞在從句中作定語,house和roof的關系是所屬關系。
6. where 先行詞時school, 關系詞在從句中作狀語,因為study后接地點時是不及物動詞。
7. which/that 先行詞是day, 關系詞在從句中作spent的賓語。
8. when 先行詞是day,關系詞在從句中作狀語,因為study后接地點時是不及物動詞。
9. why 先行詞是reason, 關系詞在從句中作狀語。從句中的結構是主系表。
10. which/that 先行詞是reason,關系詞在從句中作主語。
11. when 先行詞是childhood, 關系詞在從句中作狀語。
12. when 先行詞是time, 關系詞在從句中作狀語,從句中的結構是主系表。
13. which/that 先行詞是place, 關系詞在從句中作主語。
14. who/that, who 第一個空的先行詞是women,關系詞在從句中作主語; 第二空的先行詞是those,關系詞在從句中作主語, 因為those 指人時只能用who引導定語從句。
15. which 先行詞是前面整個句子,關系詞在從句中作主語。
16. that/which 先行詞是point, 關系詞在從句中作介詞on的賓語。
17. where 先行詞是point,關系詞在從句中作狀語。
(作者單位:陽江市陽東縣第一中學)
責任編校 蔣小青