My friend showed me round the town, ________ was very kind of him.
A. which B. that C. where D. it
對于這道題,很顯然,B和C不能選,因為that不用于引導非限制性定語從句,而where是關系副詞,只用作狀語,不用作主語,所以這兩者很容易被排除。但是,在A和D之間,該選哪一個呢?許多同學選了人稱代詞it,因為It was very kind of him讀起來“太有感覺了”,語感“太正常了”;但是,很遺憾,選it錯了。正確答案是A,即應選關系代詞which。為什么呢?
這要從英語的句子結構說起。根據(jù)英語語法,如果從結構上看,英語句子可分為簡單句、并列句和復合句三類(若包括并列復合句,則為四類)。
所謂簡單句,就是只有一個主謂結構。如:
Our dog likes catching biscuits in its mouth. 我們的狗喜歡用嘴接餅干。
所謂并列句,就是指由并列連詞連接的兩個或多個主謂結構。如:
We parted, and we haven’t met since. 我們分手了,以后再也沒有見面。
At first they were happy, but things soon started to go wrong. 起初他們在一起很快樂,但不久就開始出問題了。
所謂復合句,就是指包括一個主句和一個(或幾個)從句的句子。如:
He answered that he knew nothing about it. 他回答說他不知情。(that引導的是賓語從句)
It is an organization which helps the elderly. 這是一個幫助老年人的機構。(which引導的是定語從句)
He’ll have four years at university after he leaves school. 他中學畢業(yè)后要上四年大學。(after引導的是時間狀語從句)
所謂并列復合句,簡單地說就是含有復合句的并列句。如:
John wanted to go to the party, but his wife said she was too tired. 約翰想去參加晚會,但他的妻子說她太累了。(but連接兩個句句子構成并列句,而but后的句子中又是一個含有賓語從句的復合句)
有了上面的句子結構知識,我們就來分析上面這道考題為什么該用which不用it了?,F(xiàn)在請看這兩個句子:
My friend showed me round the town, which was very kind of him.
My friend showed me round the town, it was very kind of him.
第一句用which之所以是正確的,是因為which在此引導非限制性定語從句,整個句子為一個含有定語從句的復合句;而第二句用it之所以不正確,是因為這個句子不屬于上面提到的任何一種句型:首先,它不是簡單句,因為它有兩個主謂結構;其次,它也不是并列句,因為句子間沒有并列連詞;第三,它也不是復合句,因為句子間沒有體現(xiàn)出主句和從句;第四,它更不是并列復合句,因為它既不是復合句,也不是并列句。
通過這樣的分析,同學們應該知道上面這個句子用it為什么是錯誤的了。假若要想保留人稱代詞it,又要使句子不錯,也有另外一個辦法,就是在it之前加上一個并列連詞,使之成為并列句。如說成:
My friend showed me round the town, and it was very kind of him.
現(xiàn)在同學們應該搞清楚了吧。下面請再看一道考題:
She brought with her three friends, none of ________ I had ever met before.
A. them B. who C. whom D. these
這道題是用them還是whom?套用上面的分析,我們可以很容易地確定答案為C,而不是A。但是,如果我們把題目稍為改變一下呢?如改成:
She brought with her three friends, and none of ________ I had ever met before.
A. them B. who C. whom D. these
這道題的答案就不能是whom,而應是them了。當然,選these在語法上也是對的,只是意思上不是很通順,相比較而言,顯然不如用them好。
最后再來看一個很典型的例子:
Simon loves you, ________ is why he wants to be with you.
A. it B. that C. which D. what
由于that’s why…是同學們非常熟悉的句式,所以許多人可能會毫不猶豫地選B。又錯了!最佳答案應是C。首先,由于句子間沒有并列連詞,所以排除A和B;又因為what不是關系代詞,不能引導定語從句,所以也不能選。注意,如果在兩個句子間加上并列連詞and,或將其中的逗號改為破折號或分號,則可用that,如以下三句都是正確的:
Simon loves you—that’s why he wants to be with you.
Simon loves you and that’s why he wants to be with you.
Simon loves you; that’s why he wants to be with you.
【小練一下】
01. That bar on Milton Street, ______ by the way is very nice, is owned by Trevor’s brother.
A. that B. how C. which D. what
02. She says it’s Charlotte’s fault, ______ is rubbish, and that she blames her.
A. that B. how C. which D. what
03. Anyway, that evening, ______ I’ll tell you more about later, I ended up staying at Rachel’s place.
A. that B. how C. which D. what
04. Dust particles must have got into the motor, ______ is why it isn’t working properly.
A. it B. that C. which D. what
05. I’m afraid he’s more of a talker than a doer, ______ is why he never finishes anything.
A. it B. that C. which D. what
06. He asked a lot of questions, none of ______ was easy to answer.
A. which B. them C. what D. that
07. He told me that he had two girl-friends, neither of ______ knew anything about the other.
A. whom B. them C. which D. who
【答案與解析】
01. C。引導非限制性定語從句且指事物時,要用關系代詞which,而不能用that;而how和what不是關系詞,均不能引導定語從句,故可排除B和D。
02. C。引導非限制性定語從句且指事物時,要用關系代詞which,而不能用that;而how和what不是關系詞,均不能引導定語從句,故可排除B和D。
03. C。引導非限制性定語從句且指事物時,要用關系代詞which,而不能用that;而how和what不是關系詞,均不能引導定語從句,故可排除B和D。
04. C。由于句子間沒有并列連詞,所以排除A和B;又因為what不是關系代詞,不能引導定語從句,所以也不能選。
05. C。由于句子間沒有并列連詞,所以排除A和B;又因為what不是關系代詞,不能引導定語從句,所以也不能選。
06. A。由于介詞后不能接關系代詞that,排除D;而them和what不是關系代詞,不用于引導定語從句,也被排除。none of which在此引導非限制性定語從句,其意為“所有這些問題都不”。
07. A。由于介詞后不能接關系代詞who,排除D;而them不是關系代詞,不用于引導定語從句,也被排除;至于which,它只用于指事物,不用于指人,也被排除。neither of whom在此引導非限制性定語從句,其意為“她們兩人都不”。