解读限制性定语从句中的关系代词

王玉峰

请同学们先看下面教材里的典型句子，认真体会斜体部分的用法：

1.A huge crack that was eight kilometres long and thirty metres wide cut across houses，roads and canals.（人教课标版教材模块一Unit4 P26）

2.The story was about a god who wanted to burn down the town.（北师大版教材模块一Unit3 Lesson1 P36）

以上从课本中选取的句子中，斜体部分的 that和who是引导定语从句的关系代词，在所引导的定语从句中作主语。引导定语从句的连词称之为关系词，它代表先行词，根据关系词在句子中所起的作用又分为关系代词和关系副词。通常关系代词在所引导的定语从句中作主语、宾语、表语、定语等成分，常用的关系代词有that，which，who，whom，whose等；关系副词在所引导的定语从句中作状语，常用的关系副词有where，when，why。下面就从限制性定语从句解读引导定语从句的关系代词。

一、that，which

（一）一般情况下，先行词指物时that/which都可以用。如：

Do you understand the sentence which / that I have just explained to you？

你们懂不懂我刚才给你们讲的那个句子？

She takes a look at the dog that can talk，then walks into the bedroom.

她看了看那条会说话的狗，然后走进卧室。

【例】 Finally he reached a lonely island was completely cut off from the outside world.

A.when B.where C.which D.whom

【答案】 C

（二）但是下列情况下用that。

1.先行词被形容词最高级、被序数词the last/ the first/ the second等、被形容词the only（唯一的）/ the very（正是）、被all/ no/ few/ little/ any等修饰时，用that；在从句中作表语时用that。如：

The first lesson that I learned will never be forgotten.我上的第一节课将永远不会忘记。

This is the very book that I lost yesterday.这就是我昨天弄丢的那本书。

This is the only example that I know.我知道的例子只有这一个。

Be very careful about any offers that involve your coming to a meeting or having someone visit your house.

如果有人以赠送礼物为由要求你前去赴会，或提出登门拜访时，应当高度警惕。

【例】 China is no longer the country she used to be.

【答案与解析】 that。根据be动词看出关系代词that在所引导的定语从句中作表语，用that。句意：中国不再是过去那样的国家了。

2.先行词本身是指物的不定代词everything/nothing/all/much/little/few/something等，其中something也可以用which，不过以that最常见。如：

All that glitters is not gold.闪闪发光者并非都是金子。

Everything that happens has a cause and an effect.一切事情的发生均有其因果。

【例】 There？蒺s nothing stops you from going to bed if you want to.

【答案与解析】 that。定语从句的先行词是指物不定代词nothing，用that。句意：如果你想去睡觉，没有什么事能阻止你去睡（或你尽管睡去）。

3.先行词是指人和指物的两个名词或代词时。如：

My father often tells me the things and persons that he met in the past.

父亲常常跟我讲起他过去所经历的人和事。

【例】 During the adventure，he met a series of things and persons surprised him.

【答案与解析】 that。先行词things and persons指物和人，关系代词who和which只能指代其一，用that既可以指物，也可以指人。句意：在冒险期间，他遇到了一系列让他吃惊的人和事。

4.在which引起的特殊疑问句中，为了避免重复用 that引导定语从句，取代which。如：

Which is the course that we are to take？ 我们选哪门课程？

二、who，whom

（一）who在所引导的定语从句中作主语，在非正式文体中可以代替作宾语的关系代词whom。whom在所引导的定语从句中作宾语，如果是“介词+关系代词”结构则只可以用whom，不可以用 who。

She is the girl whom/who/that I have come to know at the club.她是我在俱乐部认识的女孩。（关系代词whom作定语从句的谓语动词know的宾语，口语中可以用who或that，也可以省掉）

The girl who has been wanted for several years by the police was a nurse.

警方追缉了几年的女子原来是个护士。（who在所引导的定语从句中作主语，既不可以省略，也不可以用whom代替）

He was suddenly grateful for someone to whom he could talk about it.对能叫他说说这件事的人，他突然感到非常感激。（在“介词+关系代词”结构中，关系代词不可以用who或that）

【例】 In the dark street，there wasnt a single person to she could turn for help.

【答案与解析】 whom。题中包含短语“turn to sb.for help”，意思是“向某人求助”。本句可以转换成：In the dark street，there wasnt a single person （whom/ who/ that） she could turn to for help.属于“介词+关系代词”结构。句意：在漆黑的大街上，连一个她可以求助的人都没有。

（二） 在下列情况下用who而不用whom：（1）先行词是one/ ones/ those/ anyone等人称不定代词时；（2）当先行词是I/you/he/they等，主要用于谚语中；（3）there be结构中。如：

God helps those who help themselves.自助者天助。

He who laughs best laughs last.谁笑在最后，谁笑得最好（别高兴得太早）

They who live in glass houses should not throw stones.自己有缺点，就别说别人的坏话。

【例】 Happiness and success often come to those are good at recognizing their own strengths.

A.whom B.who C.what D.which

【答案】 B

三、who，that

（一）that与who均可指人，有时可互换。如：

All that/who heard him were delighted.所有听了他讲话的人都很高兴。

Have you met anybody that /who has been to Paris？你遇见过去过巴黎的人吗？

He is the only one among us that/who knows Russian.他是我们中间唯一懂俄语的人。

（二）在下列情况，通常要用 that：1.当先行词是who时（为避免重复）；2.当关系代词在定语从句中作表语时（可省略）；3.当先行词是一个既指人又指物的并列词组时。但是在分割性定语从句中，由于先行词后面有较长的修饰语或其他成分隔开，当先行词指人时，为了避免歧义用who。如：

Who that has sympathy can laugh on that occasion？

有同情心的人谁会在那个时候发笑呢？

Tom is not the boy （that） he was.汤姆这孩子已不是以前那个样子了。

I made a speech on the men and things that I had seen abroad.

我就我在国外所见到的人和事做了报告。

I was the only person in my office who was invited to the palace ball.

我是我们办公室里唯一一个被邀请参加宫廷舞会的人。（定语从句的先行词是person，who引导的定语从句被in my office隔开，如果用that则可能会误以为office是先行词）

四、whose

不管先行词是“人”还是“物”，都可以用关系代词whose作定语修饰后面的名词，指代“……人的”或“……物的”，其本身在定语从句中作定语。相当于“介词+关系代词”中的of whom或of which。如：

This book is for the students whose native language is not English.

这本书是为那些母语不是英语的学生编写的。（whose native language=the native language of whom）

Do you know who is living in that house whose windows face south？

你知道那栋窗户朝南的房子里住的是谁吗？（whose windows=the window of which）