定语从句必备知识与常考考点梳理

河南 昝亚娟（特级教师）

众所周知，定语从句是英语中的重要语法知识，也是高中英语教学的重点和难点。由于定语从句类试题具有较高的区分度，因而定语从句这一语法知识备受命题人的青睐，成为高考的高频考点和热点。本文拟梳理定语从句考点的必备知识，并分析其高考考查角度。

一、定语从句的必备基础知识

为了更好地迎接高考，在讲解定语从句时，教师应从以下几个方面做起：

（一）定语从句的概念和功能

定语从句也叫关系从句或形容词性从句，是三大主从复合句中的一种。定语从句通常位于主句中的某个名词或代词之后，对其进行修饰、限定或补充说明。这个起修饰或限定作用的从句就叫定语从句。定语从句相当于一个后置定语，具有形容词的功能，被定语从句修饰的词叫作先行词。例如：

（2018 年浙江卷，语法填空，改编）Many westerners who/that come to China cook much less than in their own countries once they realize how cheap it can be to eat out.

先行词为Many westerners，加实线的部分为由who/that 引导的定语从句，加虚线的部分为主句。

（二）定语从句的种类

定语从句通常分为限制性定语从句和非限制性定语从句。限制性定语从句对先行词进行修饰和限制，从句和先行词之间通常没有逗号；非限制性定语从句对先行词进行补充和说明，通常用逗号把主句和从句隔开。例如：

【例1】（2018 年全国卷Ⅱ，语法填空，改编）...the government started a soil-testing program that/which gives specific fertilizer recommendations to farmers...（限制性定语从句）

【例2】（2018 年天津卷，单项填空2，改编）Kate,whose sister I shared a room with when we were at college,has gone to work in Australia.（非限制性定语从句）

【例3】（2016 年江苏卷，单项填空23，改编）Many young people,most of whom were well-educated,headed for remote regions to chase their dreams.（非限制性定语从句）

（三）定语从句的关系词

引导定语从句的关系词分为关系代词和关系副词。关系代词：who,whom,whose,that,which,as；关系副词：when,where,why。关系词的选择取决于先行词在从句中所作的句子成分：如果从句中缺少主语、表语、宾语或定语，通常用关系代词引导定语从句；如果从句中缺少状语，通常用关系副词引导定语从句。例如：

【例1】Confucius,who lived from roughly 511 to 479 B.C.,had a great influence on Chinese society.（先行词为Confucius，在从句中作主语）

【例2】The books on the desk,whose covers are shiny,are prizes for us.（先行词为The books，在从句中作定语）

【例3】It is a truly delightful place,which looks exactly the same as it was 100 years ago.（先行词为a truly delightful place，在从句中作主语）

【例4】The number of smokers,as is reported,has dropped by 17 percent in just one year.（先行词为The number，在从句中作主语）

【例5】Scientists have advanced many theories about why human beings cry tears,none of which has been proved.（先行词为many theories，在从句中作介词of 的宾语）

【例6】We will put off the picnic in the park until next week,when the weather may be better.（先行词为next week，在从句中作时间状语）

【例7】Opposite is St.Paul’s Church,where you can hear some lovely music.（先行词为St.Paul’s Church，在从句中作地点状语）

（四）定语从句的易错点

1.分隔式定语从句

定语从句通常位于先行词之后。但是，有些定语从句没有紧跟在先行词的后面，而是被其他句子成分或插入语隔开。例如：

【例1】（2014 年重庆卷，单项填空9，改编）We’ll reach the sales targets in a month which/that we set at the beginning of the year.（主句中的时间状语in a month 将先行词the sales targets 与定语从句分隔）

【例2】（2019 年全国卷Ⅱ，语法填空，改编）Now Irene Astbury works from 9 am to 5 pm daily at the pet shop in Macclesfield,which she opened with her late husband Les.（主句中的地点状语in Macclesfield 将定语从句与先行词the pet shop 分隔）

【例3】I have reached a point in my career where I need to decide which way to go.（主句中的状语in my career 将定语从句与先行词a point 分隔）

2.关系代词that 与which 的辨析

在限制性定语从句中，当先行词为表示事物的名词或代词，且从句中缺少主语、表语或宾语时，常用关系代词that 和which。但在有些情况下，that 和which 不能互换：

（1）只能用that，不能用which 的几种情况

①当先行词既有人又有物时；②当先行词为all,any,every,little,much,few,everything,none,no 等不定代词时；③当先行词被序数词或形容词最高级修饰时；④当先行词被the only,the very,the same,the right 等修饰时；⑤当主句是以which 开头的特殊问句时。例如：

Please send us all the information that you have about the candidate for the position.（句中无逗号，为限制性定语从句。先行词为the information，从句中的动词have 缺少宾语，因先行词被all 修饰，故画线处只能用关系代词that）

（2）只能用which，不能用that 的情况

①关系代词前有介词，只能用which；②在非限制性定语从句中，当先行词为物或指前句陈述的内容，且从句中缺少主语、表语或宾语时，关系代词只能用which。例如：

【例1】Some experts think reading is the fundamental skill upon which school education depends.（句中无逗号，为限制性定语从句，先行词为the fundamental skill，定语从句中的介词upon 后缺少宾语，故用关系代词which）

【例2】Mo Yan was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2012,which made one of the Chinese people’s long-held dreams come true.（句中有逗号，为非限制性定语从句，画线处只能用关系代词which，指代主句的内容）

3.关系代词as 与which 的辨析

关系代词as 和which 都可以引导非限制性定语从句，指代主句中的某个名词或整个句子的内容，在从句中作主语、宾语或表语。as 和which 引导的定语从句都可置于主句之后，有时二者可以互换。但二者在用法上又有所不同：（1）as 引导的定语从句可位于主句之前、之后或句中，which 引导的定语从句只能放在主句之后；（2）as 有“正如，正像”之意；（3）在as we know，as often happens，as is often the case，as we all can see，as is/was announced/expected/known/imagined/mentioned/said/shown/reported 等句式中，只能用as，不能用which；（4）在非限制性定语从句中，which可用于指代主句中的某一个单词，而as不能。（5）在“介词+关系代词（介宾代物）”结构中，只能用which；（6）在“such/the same+名词...as...”结构中，只能用关系代词as，不能用which。例如：

【例1】As is often the case with children,Amy was better by the time the doctor arrived.（As引导的定语从句位于句首，关系代词as 指代主句的内容）

【例2】China today attracts a worldwide readership,which shows that more and more people all over the world want to learn about China.（定语从句位于主句之后，应用关系代词which，指代主句的内容）

【例3】Such people as you describe are rare nowadays.（先行词为such people，as 引导定语从句）

4.一些特殊的先行词

（1）当抽象名词case,condition,situation,position,point,stage 等后跟定语从句时，表示“到了某种地步/阶段，陷入某种处境/情况”，常用关系副词where 引导定语从句。（2）名词occasion 表示“场合”，其后的定语从句常用when 引导。（3）当way 作“方式”解时，其后的定语从句可用关系词that/in which 来引导，也可省略。例如：

【例1】（2019 年天津卷，单项填空11，改编）Their child is at the stage where she can say individual words but not full sentences.（先行词为the stage，在从句作地点状语，故用关系副词where 引导定语从句）

【例2】The pilot got himself into a dangerous situation where he is likely to lose control ever the plane.（先行词为a dangerous situation，在从句中作地点状语，故用关系副词where 引导定语从句）

【例3】I have reached a point in my life where I am supposed to make decisions of my own.（先行词为a point，在从句作地点状语，故用关系副词where 引导定语从句）

【例4】Occasions are quite rare when mothers have the time to spend a day with their kids.（先行词为occasions，意为“特定的时刻，场合”，在从句中作时间状语，故用关系副词when 引导定语从句）

【例5】In hard times,the Spring Festival was the only occasion where a family threw off the old attire and put on new clothes specially made for the festival.（先行词为occasion，意为“仪式、庆典等重大场合”，在从句中作地点状语，故用关系副词where。）

【例6】I don’t like the way that/in which Peter talks to me.（先行词是the way，此处表示我不喜欢Peter 和我说话的方式，way 表示“方式”，故用关系词that/in which引导定语从句）

5.关系代词与关系副词的辨析

选用关系代词还是关系副词来引导从句，关键是看从句中缺少什么句子成分。如果从句中缺少主语、表语、宾语或定语，应选用关系代词；如果从句中不缺主语、表语、宾语或定语，而是缺少状语，应选用关系副词。例如：

（1）that/which 与where

①When I arrived,Bryan took me to see the house I would be staying.

②The old town has narrow streets and small houses_______are built close to each other.

【分析】①先行词为the house，从句中的谓语动词stay 为不及物动词，且从句中缺少地点状语，故空白处应填where（相当于in which）；②先行词为small houses，从句为被动句，且从句中缺少主语，故空白处应填that/which。

（2）that/which 与when

①The exact year________Angela and her family spent together in China was 2008.

②That evening,________I will tell you more about later,I ended up working very late.

③Alex is always longing for the time he should be able to be independent.

【分析】①为限制性定语从句。先行词为The exact year，从句中的谓语动词spent 为及物动词，缺少宾语，故空白处应填关系代词that/which；②为非限制性定语从句。从句中的介词about 缺少宾语，故空白处应填关系代词which；③为限制性定语从句。先行词为the time，从句为主系表结构，且从句中缺少时间状语，故空白处应填关系副词when。

（3）that/which 与why

①What was the reason______he explained at the meeting for his careless in his work?

②What is the reason_______some rivers have been seriously polluted?

【分析】①先行词为the reason，定语从句中的谓语动词explained 缺少宾语，故空白处应填关系代词that/which；②先行词为the reason，从句为被动句，缺少原因状语，故空白处应填关系副词why。

6.定语从句与其他结构的辨析

（1）定语从句与并列句的辨析

①We have two foreign teachers.Both of______come from the UK.

②We have two foreign teachers,both of______come from the UK.

【分析】①前后句之间为句号，为并列句，故介词of后应填代词them，指代foreign teachers。②前后句之间为逗号，后句为定语从句。先行词为two foreign teachers，故介词of 后应填关系代词whom。

（2）定语从句与同位语从句的辨析

①（2019 年江苏卷，单项填空25，改编）Scientists have obtained more evidence______plastic is finding its way into the human body.

②The court didn’t accept the evidence______was provided by the lawyer.

【分析】①由空格后的分句句子成分完整可判断，该句为同位语从句，解释抽象名词evidence，故空白处应填连接词that。②第二个分句对先行词the evidence 进行修饰和限定，且从句中缺少主语，由此可判断该句为定语从句，故空白处应填关系代词that/which。

（3）定语从句与强调句型的辨析

①（2018 年天津卷，单项填空14，改编）It was only when the car pulled up in front of our house_____we saw Lily in the passenger seat.

②It was on the farm________they worked that Kate got to know Peter.

【分析】①中含有一个强调句型，被强调部分为only when the car pulled up in front of our house，故空白处只能填that。②中含有一个强调句型，被强调部分为on the farm，先行词the farm 后带定语从句they worked，从句中缺少地点状语，故空白处应填where。

二、高考对定语从句的考查

近年高考着重从以下几个方面考查定语从句：

1.考查关系代词在语境中的应用

【例1】（2019 年全国卷Ⅲ，语法填空）They were well trained bytheir masters 64 had great experience with caring for these animals.

【分析】本句含有定语从句，先行词their masters 指人，且在从句中作主语，故空白处应填who/that。

【例2】（2017 年全国卷Ⅰ，语法填空）Like anything,it is possible to have too much of both, 70 is not good for the health.

【分析】逗号之后为非限制性定语从句，从句中缺少主语，故应填关系代词which，指代主句的内容。

【例3】（2019 年北京卷，语法填空）The students benefiting most from college are those 9 are totally engaged（参与）in academic life,...

【分析】本句含有定语从句，先行词为those，指代前句中的students，在从句中作主语，故空白处应填关系代词who/that。

【例4】（2017 年天津卷，单项填空9，改编）My eldest son,_______work takes him all over the world,is in New York at the moment.

【分析】先行词为My eldest son，其与定语从句中的名词work 之间有所属关系，故空白处应填关系代词whose。

2.考查关系副词在语境中的应用

【例1】（2019 年全国卷Ⅰ，短文改错）One afternoon where I was in primary school,I was walking by the school playground.

【分析】本句含有定语从句，先行词为One afternoon，在从句中作时间状语，故将关系副词where 改为when。

【例2】（2018 年江苏卷，单项填空23，改编）Selfdriving is an area_____China and the rest of the world are on the same starting line.

【分析】空白处之前为主句，先行词为an area，在定语从句中作地点状语，故空白处应填关系副词where。

【例3】（2019 年江苏卷，单项填空21，改编）We have entered into an age_______dreams have the best chance of coming true.

【分析】空白处之前为主句，先行词为an age，在定语从句中作时间状语，故空白处应填关系副词when。

【例4】（2018 年全国卷Ⅰ，短文改错）They also had a small pond which they raised fish.

【分析】先行词为a small pond，在从句中作地点状语，故应将which 改为where 或在which 前加in。

3.考查分隔定语从句

（2018 年全国卷Ⅰ，语法填空）Two of the authors of the review also made a study published in 2014 66 showed a mere five to 10 minutes a day of running reduced the risk of heart disease and early deaths from all causes.

【分析】先行词为a study，其后置定语published in 2014 将定语从句与先行词分隔，故空白处应填关系代词that/which，在从句中作主语。

4.考查定语从句与名词性从句的辨析

（2019 年全国卷Ⅰ，语法填空）...there is evidence61 they range all the way across the Arctic,...

【分析】空格后的分句不缺少句子成分，可判断该句为同位语从句，解释抽象名词evidence 的内容，因此空白处应填连接词that。

5.考查对句子结构的把握

（2019 年天津卷，单项填空3，改编）A study shows the students who are engaged in after-school activities are happier than____who are not.

【分析】连词than 之后应接比较对象。前句中的the students who...对应的是名词或代词+who...，故空白处应填代词those，相当于those students。先行词为those 时，通常用关系代词who 引导定语从句，that 也是一种可能的答案。

虽然定语从句的知识比较繁杂，考查的角度灵活多样，但是通过教师的系统梳理和深入研究，学生可以对定语从句考点有一个系统的、全面的认识。只要学生养成分析句子结构的好习惯，理顺句子之间的逻辑关系，就能熟练掌握定语从句的用法，从而突破难点，避免在考试中失分。