王玲
摘 要:从句是指从属于主句的句子,由从属连词连接。由主句和从句构成的复合句,是英语中比较复杂的句子结构。从句的种类有很多,但根据其性质和作用可以分为:名词性从句,形容词性从句(即定语从句),副词性从句(即状语从句)三大类。从句构成与用法的考查要点很多,历来是专业四级英语考试试题的热点与焦点,专业四级英语考试几乎每年都涉及到对名词性从句、形容词性从句的考查,常将并列连接词、从属连词、关系代词、关系副词放在同一题干中进行考查,故意设置干扰项,增加试题难度,以考查考生分析交际语境、理解句子之间的逻辑关系的能力。
关键词:从句;关系代词;先行词
一、名词性从句
名词性从句侧重考查考生在一定的语言环境下对英语从句的语序、从句连接词的运用以及主从句时态的呼应等知识点的掌握。
名词性从句:即从句在整个句中起名词作用,分别可以作主语、宾语、表语、同位语等,所以这类从句包括主语从句、宾语从句、表语从句和同位语从句。
考点一:主语从句:主要考查主语从句的引导词;主句的谓语动词,一般用单数。
It is well-known that the earth moves around the sun. 众所周知,地球围绕太阳转。
When the sports meet will be held is not decided. 何时举行运动会还没有决定。
考点二:宾语从句:主要考查宾语从句if与whether的用法区别:
1.whether和if常与or not连用,whether和or not 既可合起来使用,也可分开使用;if和or not只能分开使用。如:
He asked whether (if) they would come or not.
I don't know whether or not they will come.
2.whether 引导的宾语从句一般是肯定句,if 引导的宾语从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)
考点三:表语从句:be動词或者系动词后面跟主语补足语。
The question is whether the book is worth reading at all. That is why we don't like it.
考点四:同位语从句。
同位语从句的特点是由一个抽象名词+that从句构成,引导词一般是that, 而且that在从句中不充当任何成分。这些抽象名词有:news, idea, fact, doubt, evidence, promise, rumor, hope, truth, belief, message等,同位语从句是对抽象名词进行说明解释。 如:
We heard the news that he had won the game. 试比较:
We heard the news that he had told her. (定语从句)
例2中的that从句的作用相当于一个形容词,其作用是修饰the news;例1中的that从句的作用相当于一个名词,是对the news的进一步说明。
有时如果主句的谓语动词较短,为保持句子平衡,避免头重脚轻,同位语从句也常与要说明的名词分开。例如:Word came that he died yesterday. 消息传来说他昨天死了。
二、形容词性从句
定语从句主要用来修饰它前面的先行词(名词或代词)的从句,所以又称形容词从句。根据与先行词的关系,定语从句可分为限制性定语从句和非限制性定语从句。定语从句主要考查引导定语从句的关系代词和关系副词;介词+引导词以及非限制性定语从句。对于定语从句,在历年专业四级英语试题中,相对集中地考查了非限制性定语从句、关系代词和关系副词的选用、定语从句中的一致关系以及"介词+关系代词"等知识。
考点一:引导定语从句的引导词有关系代词(who, whom, which, that, whose)和关系副词(as, when, where, why)等。但是当下列情况出现时,对引导词有特殊要求。
1. 当先行词是all, everything, nothing, something, little, much时;当先行词被all, no, some, any, every, a few, a little, much, only, very修饰时;当先行词被序数词或形容词最高级修饰时,或者先行词既有人又有物时,定语从句的引导词用that。例如:
Everything (that) he said seemed quite reasonable.
The first thing (that) I saw will never be forgotten.
2.why引导表示原因的定语从句,其先行词一般是reason。当主句主语是reason时,作主句表语的成分不能有because和because of 。其结构一般为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.
考点二:考查“介词 + 关系代词”引导定语从句的用法。当先行词在定语从句中作介词的宾语时,往往可以把介词放在关系代词之前,构成"介词 + 关系代词(whom / which)"结构。但一些短语动词(如look after等)中的介词不能与动词分开,故不能放在关系代词之前。 American women usually look upon their best friend as someone with whom they can talk frequently.
关系代词whom在定语从句中作介词with的宾语,talk with sb.意为"与某人。另外,我们还要注意"部分 + of 介词+ 关系代词(整体名词)"结构,该结构,做关系词就是"部分名词 + of which/whom"的结构,往往可以翻译成“其中”。
He invited many scientists to his birthday party, two of whom were his old mates.
考点三:当先行词为表示时间的名词(如: day, year, week, month, occasion)或地點的名词(如:place, room, city, country)时,一般用关系副when和 where. 分别相当于in which, at which, on which。但是当这些表示时间或地点的名词作从句的宾语时,则要用关系代词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).
考点四:非限定性定语从句不能用that引导, 一般用引导词which / as或who(指人),非限定性定语从句既可以修饰主句的部分内容,也可修饰主句的全部内容。as引导的非限定性定语从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引导的非限定性定语从句不能放在主句句首。(考查重点) The large area is covered with thick snow, which has been reported on TV. 大片区域为积雪所覆盖,这已在电视里报道了。
His speech, which was very boring, was over at last. Her sister, who lived in another city, was coming to visit her.
名词性从句和形容性从句一直是英语四级考试的重要考点,希望以上的一些分析对考生有所帮助。