王玲
摘 要:從句是指從屬于主句的句子,由從屬連詞連接。由主句和從句構成的復合句,是英語中比較復雜的句子結構。從句的種類有很多,但根據其性質和作用可以分為:名詞性從句,形容詞性從句(即定語從句),副詞性從句(即狀語從句)三大類。從句構成與用法的考查要點很多,歷來是專業(yè)四級英語考試試題的熱點與焦點,專業(yè)四級英語考試幾乎每年都涉及到對名詞性從句、形容詞性從句的考查,常將并列連接詞、從屬連詞、關系代詞、關系副詞放在同一題干中進行考查,故意設置干擾項,增加試題難度,以考查考生分析交際語境、理解句子之間的邏輯關系的能力。
關鍵詞:從句;關系代詞;先行詞
一、名詞性從句
名詞性從句側重考查考生在一定的語言環(huán)境下對英語從句的語序、從句連接詞的運用以及主從句時態(tài)的呼應等知識點的掌握。
名詞性從句:即從句在整個句中起名詞作用,分別可以作主語、賓語、表語、同位語等,所以這類從句包括主語從句、賓語從句、表語從句和同位語從句。
考點一:主語從句:主要考查主語從句的引導詞;主句的謂語動詞,一般用單數。
It is well-known that the earth moves around the sun. 眾所周知,地球圍繞太陽轉。
When the sports meet will be held is not decided. 何時舉行運動會還沒有決定。
考點二:賓語從句:主要考查賓語從句if與whether的用法區(qū)別:
1.whether和if常與or not連用,whether和or not 既可合起來使用,也可分開使用;if和or not只能分開使用。如:
He asked whether (if) they would come or not.
I don't know whether or not they will come.
2.whether 引導的賓語從句一般是肯定句,if 引導的賓語從句可以是肯定也可以否定的。如:
She asked whether/if you had enough money.
I don't care if it doesn't rain.(只能用if)
考點三:表語從句:be動詞或者系動詞后面跟主語補足語。
The question is whether the book is worth reading at all. That is why we don't like it.
考點四:同位語從句。
同位語從句的特點是由一個抽象名詞+that從句構成,引導詞一般是that, 而且that在從句中不充當任何成分。這些抽象名詞有:news, idea, fact, doubt, evidence, promise, rumor, hope, truth, belief, message等,同位語從句是對抽象名詞進行說明解釋。 如:
We heard the news that he had won the game. 試比較:
We heard the news that he had told her. (定語從句)
例2中的that從句的作用相當于一個形容詞,其作用是修飾the news;例1中的that從句的作用相當于一個名詞,是對the news的進一步說明。
有時如果主句的謂語動詞較短,為保持句子平衡,避免頭重腳輕,同位語從句也常與要說明的名詞分開。例如:Word came that he died yesterday. 消息傳來說他昨天死了。
二、形容詞性從句
定語從句主要用來修飾它前面的先行詞(名詞或代詞)的從句,所以又稱形容詞從句。根據與先行詞的關系,定語從句可分為限制性定語從句和非限制性定語從句。定語從句主要考查引導定語從句的關系代詞和關系副詞;介詞+引導詞以及非限制性定語從句。對于定語從句,在歷年專業(yè)四級英語試題中,相對集中地考查了非限制性定語從句、關系代詞和關系副詞的選用、定語從句中的一致關系以及"介詞+關系代詞"等知識。
考點一:引導定語從句的引導詞有關系代詞(who, whom, which, that, whose)和關系副詞(as, when, where, why)等。但是當下列情況出現時,對引導詞有特殊要求。
1. 當先行詞是all, everything, nothing, something, little, much時;當先行詞被all, no, some, any, every, a few, a little, much, only, very修飾時;當先行詞被序數詞或形容詞最高級修飾時,或者先行詞既有人又有物時,定語從句的引導詞用that。例如:
Everything (that) he said seemed quite reasonable.
The first thing (that) I saw will never be forgotten.
2.why引導表示原因的定語從句,其先行詞一般是reason。當主句主語是reason時,作主句表語的成分不能有because和because of 。其結構一般為the reason why…is that…,或者 the reason that … is that…,如:
He did not tell us the reason why he was late again.
The reason why (that)he didn't come is that he was ill.
考點二:考查“介詞 + 關系代詞”引導定語從句的用法。當先行詞在定語從句中作介詞的賓語時,往往可以把介詞放在關系代詞之前,構成"介詞 + 關系代詞(whom / which)"結構。但一些短語動詞(如look after等)中的介詞不能與動詞分開,故不能放在關系代詞之前。 American women usually look upon their best friend as someone with whom they can talk frequently.
關系代詞whom在定語從句中作介詞with的賓語,talk with sb.意為"與某人。另外,我們還要注意"部分 + of 介詞+ 關系代詞(整體名詞)"結構,該結構,做關系詞就是"部分名詞 + of which/whom"的結構,往往可以翻譯成“其中”。
He invited many scientists to his birthday party, two of whom were his old mates.
考點三:當先行詞為表示時間的名詞(如: day, year, week, month, occasion)或地點的名詞(如:place, room, city, country)時,一般用關系副when和 where. 分別相當于in which, at which, on which。但是當這些表示時間或地點的名詞作從句的賓語時,則要用關系代詞that 或which.
I can't forget the days when (in which) I studied with you.
Ill never forget the village where (in which) I spent my childhood(童年).
考點四:非限定性定語從句不能用that引導, 一般用引導詞which / as或who(指人),非限定性定語從句既可以修飾主句的部分內容,也可修飾主句的全部內容。as引導的非限定性定語從句既可以放在主句之前,也可以放在主句之中或之后,但which或who引導的非限定性定語從句不能放在主句句首。(考查重點) The large area is covered with thick snow, which has been reported on TV. 大片區(qū)域為積雪所覆蓋,這已在電視里報道了。
His speech, which was very boring, was over at last. Her sister, who lived in another city, was coming to visit her.
名詞性從句和形容性從句一直是英語四級考試的重要考點,希望以上的一些分析對考生有所幫助。