在英语写作中,定语从句是一项极其重要的语法结构,它能让句子更加丰富、表达更加精准,无论是学术写作、商务邮件,还是日常交流,定语从句都能帮助写作者更清晰地传达信息,本文将从定语从句的基本概念、使用技巧、常见错误以及如何提升写作水平四个方面展开,帮助读者掌握这一语法工具。
什么是定语从句
定语从句,也称为关系从句,用于修饰名词或代词,使其含义更加具体,它通常由关系代词(如who, whom, whose, which, that)或关系副词(如where, when, why)引导。
- The book that I borrowed from the library is very interesting.(我从图书馆借的那本书很有趣。)
- The city where I grew up has changed a lot.(我长大的城市变化很大。)
定语从句分为限制性定语从句和非限制性定语从句,限制性定语从句对主句意义至关重要,去掉后句子意思会不完整;而非限制性定语从句仅提供额外信息,不影响主句核心含义。
- 限制性:The man who is standing there is my teacher.(站在那里的那个人是我的老师。)
- 非限制性:My brother, who lives in New York, is coming to visit me.(我哥哥住在纽约,他要来看我。)
定语从句的使用技巧
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选择正确的关系词
- who/whom 用于指人(whom作宾语)。
- which 用于指物或动物。
- that 可用于人或物,但在非限制性定语从句中不能使用。
- whose 表示所属关系,相当于“某人的”或“某物的”。
- where/when/why 分别表示地点、时间和原因。
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避免冗余
在定语从句中,关系代词在从句中作宾语时可以省略(非正式写作中更常见),但作主语时不能省略。- The movie (that) we watched last night was amazing.(我们昨晚看的电影很棒。)
- The woman who teaches us English is very kind.(教我们英语的那位女士很友善。)
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注意介词的位置
在正式写作中,介词可以放在关系代词前,但此时不能用that。- This is the house in which I was born.(这是我出生的房子。)
- The person to whom you spoke is my boss.(和你说话的那个人是我的老板。)
常见错误及纠正
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关系代词误用
- 错误:The book who I read was fascinating.
- 正确:The book that/which I read was fascinating.
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非限制性定语从句误用that
- 错误:My car, that is blue, needs repair.
- 正确:My car, which is blue, needs repair.
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缺少关系代词
- 错误:The man is talking to my friend is a doctor.
- 正确:The man who is talking to my friend is a doctor.
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从句与主句逻辑不符
- 错误:She gave me a gift, which made me happy.(这里“which”指代整个主句,但容易产生歧义。)
- 更佳表达:She gave me a gift that made me happy.(这样更明确“gift”是让我开心的原因。)
如何提升定语从句写作水平
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多读优秀范文
阅读英文原著、新闻报道或学术论文,观察作者如何使用定语从句,模仿其句式结构。 -
练习改写句子
尝试将简单句合并成含定语从句的复合句。- 原句:I have a friend. He speaks five languages.
- 改写:I have a friend who speaks five languages.
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写作时注意逻辑
确保定语从句修饰的对象明确,避免歧义。- 模糊:I saw a dog in the park that was barking loudly.(是“公园”在叫,还是“狗”在叫?)
- 清晰:In the park, I saw a dog that was barking loudly.
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使用多样化表达
避免过度依赖“that”或“which”,适当使用“where”“when”“whose”等,使句子更生动。
定语从句是英语写作的利器,掌握它能让文章更加流畅、表达更加精准,通过不断练习和修正,写作者可以逐渐熟练运用这一语法结构,使自己的英语写作水平更上一层楼。