Relative words
理解语法是理解一门语言的关键。
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Relative words
用'who', 'what', 'which', 'where'...来引导一个从句:
WHO / WHOSE / WHOM 用来指代人，有时指代动物(who, that, which):
WHO / WHOSE / WHOM 用来指代人，有时指代动物(who, that, which):
The lady who came yesterday was very polite.昨天来的那位女士非常有礼貌。
Our C.E.O., whose father was a dentist, has a nice smile.我们的CEO有非常漂亮的笑容，而他的爸爸是牙医。
My sister Michelle, whom you met last Saturday, has been married twice already.我的妹妹米歇尔，就是你上个周六见到的那位，已经结过两次婚了。
Our C.E.O., whose father was a dentist, has a nice smile.我们的CEO有非常漂亮的笑容，而他的爸爸是牙医。
My sister Michelle, whom you met last Saturday, has been married twice already.我的妹妹米歇尔，就是你上个周六见到的那位，已经结过两次婚了。
WHAT / WHICH 用来表示物品或者想法:
His commitment to the company, which has always been noticed, has diminished considerably over the last few weeks.他对公司的奉献，大家有目共睹，但是最近几周来急剧下降了。
The chalet, which I told you about last week, is not for sale anymore.这个小木屋，就是上周我跟你说过的那个，已经不在售了。
The iceberg was what impressed me most.冰山是最让我印象深刻的。
She doesn't know what to do.她不知道做什么好。
The chalet, which I told you about last week, is not for sale anymore.这个小木屋，就是上周我跟你说过的那个，已经不在售了。
The iceberg was what impressed me most.冰山是最让我印象深刻的。
She doesn't know what to do.她不知道做什么好。
注意: WHICH也可以用来指代人，当后面引导的是一个选择时:
I don't remember which (one) of them I met first. 我不记得第一个遇见的是他们中的哪一个了。
WHERE和WHEN分别引导地方(何地)和时间(何时):
Meet me at the restaurant where I proposed to you. 到我向你求婚的那个餐厅和我见面。
So this is what it sounds like when doves cry. (Prince song)这就是白鸽们哭泣的声音。(普林斯的歌)
So this is what it sounds like when doves cry. (Prince song)这就是白鸽们哭泣的声音。(普林斯的歌)
THAT 可以用来指代东西或人。它有时会被隐去，但是其意义还在:
I have lost all the CDs (that) I bought last week. 我上周买的那些CD，我都弄丢了。
The dress (that) she is wearing is a nice color. 她穿得这条连衣裙颜色非常好看。
The man (that) we saw is my boss.我们看到的那个男人是我老板。
The dress (that) she is wearing is a nice color. 她穿得这条连衣裙颜色非常好看。
The man (that) we saw is my boss.我们看到的那个男人是我老板。
练习 1
Kevin: car is in my parking space? I want it removed immediately!
Luna: are you talking about, Kevin?
Kevin: I just want to find out parked their car in my spot.
Luna: are you talking about, Kevin?
Kevin: I just want to find out parked their car in my spot.
Kevin: Whose 1 car is in my parking space? I want it removed immediately!
Luna: What 2 are you talking about, Kevin?
Kevin: I just want to find out who 3 parked their car in my spot.
Luna: What 2 are you talking about, Kevin?
Kevin: I just want to find out who 3 parked their car in my spot.
1 Whose: 'Whose?' is used to ask 'to whom' the car belongs, or to ask about the owner of the car. We use 'whose' to ask questions about possession.
1 Whom: 'Whom' is a formal term, not frequently used in today's English. We cannot use 'whom' to ask about possession, the term is used to ask a question about an unknown person. Generally 'whom' is used as the object in a sentence (Whom did you kill? To whom did you give your rose? or Whom will you give your prize?). 'Who' is generally used as the subject in a sentence (Who did this to you?) or less frequently as the predicate noun of a sentence (He is the one who did this to me).
1 What: 'What?' asks a general question about a subject or topic. The term cannot be used to ask about possession.
1 Who: 'Who?' is used to ask questions about identity or people. The term cannot be used to ask a question about possession. We might ask 'who bought that new car?', but we must ask 'whose car is that?'.
2 What: 'What?' is used to asked general questions. Here Luna wants to know what Kevin is talking about, and probably the reason for his initial question.
2 Who: 'Who?' is used to ask about identity. Because Kevin isn't talking about anyone specifically, it doesn't make sense to use it here.
2 Why: 'Why?' is used to ask about cause or reason. The question 'why are talk about?' is grammatically incorrect.
2 Which: 'Which?' is used to ask questions with a limited number of possible answers. We often use it to ask about choice or preference: Which of the two candidates to you support?
3 who: In this sentence, who acts as a relative pronoun, referring to the person who has parked in Kevin's spot. As a relative pronoun, 'who' replaces people.
3 whose: 'Whose', as a relative term as well as an interrogative term, always refers to possession. Kevin's sentence refers to identity, for which 'who' is used.
3 what: As a relative pronoun, 'what' replaces objects, but never people. Kevin is referring to the person who parked in his spot, not an object.
3 where: As a relative pronoun, 'where' replaces locations, but never people. Kevin is referring to the person who parked in his spot, the spot itself.
练习 2
Susie: I don't care opinion it is. Even if it were the president's opinion, I'd still disagree!
Bob: is the president these days anyway? Is it still Truman?
Susie: I don't know I even bother talking to you anymore.
Bob: is the president these days anyway? Is it still Truman?
Susie: I don't know I even bother talking to you anymore.
Susie: I don't care whose 1 opinion it is. Even if it were the president's opinion, I'd still disagree!
Bob: Who 2 is the president these days anyway? Is it still Truman?
Susie: I don't know why 3 I even bother talking to you anymore.
Bob: Who 2 is the president these days anyway? Is it still Truman?
Susie: I don't know why 3 I even bother talking to you anymore.
1 whose: 'Whose' is used to describe 'to whom' the opinion belongs. In this sentence, 'whose' acts as a relative adjective and refers to any person who expresses a certain opinion.
1 whom: 'Whom' is a formal term, not frequently used in today's English. Both as a relative term and an interrogative one, 'whom' cannot be used to refer to or ask about possession. If Susie were referring to a person (and not to whoever possesses an opinion), she might say 'I don't care to whom the opinion belongs'
1 who: 'Who?' is used to ask questions about identity or people. As a relative pronoun, it refers to a person or someone's identity. The term cannot be used to refer to possession.
1 which: Although grammatically correct, using 'which' here doesn't agree with the second clause of this sentence. We want to know about the possession of this opinion, and not 'which' opinion we are referring to.
2 Who: 'Who?' is used to ask about identity. Bob is inquiring about the president's identity or name.
2 Whose: 'Whose?' is used to ask questions about possession, not identity.
2 What: 'What' is used to ask questions of a general nature. It can't ask a question about a person's identity.
2 Which: 'Which?' is used to ask questions with a limited number of possible answers. For example: Which President do you prefer: Truman or Eisenhower?
3 why: In this sentence, 'why' is used as a relative term to refer to the purpose, reason or cause of Susie's conversations with Bob. Susie is questioning her decision to talk to Bob as he seems lost in the conversation.
3 what: As a relative term, 'what' refers to objects or general subjects. Example: What's done is done. 'What' can't refer to the reason for an action.
3 which: As a relative term, 'which' refers to specific subjects. Example: The report which I gave you this morning must be read by this afternoon. 'Which' can't refer to the reason for an action.
3 where: As a relative term, 'where' describes a location. Example: Meet me at the restaurant where we first met. 'Where' can't refer to the reason for an action.
练习 3
The building has been much more quiet Harold Warbuckle left. He had been yelling and screaming hours, so it was a relief he finally exited the boardroom.
The building has been much more quiet since 1 Harold Warbuckle left. He had been yelling and screaming for 2 hours, so it was a relief when 3 he finally exited the boardroom.
1 since: 'Since' is the best choice here because it indicates 'when' or 'at what moment' the building became more quiet. As a preposition of time, 'since' is often followed by a precise date, or an action which corresponds to a precise moment in time.
1 for: As a preposition of time, 'for' is usually used to describe the duration of an action. In this case, it does not fit the construction because it cannot tell us when an action began, or its starting point.
1 ago: The term 'ago' is used to situate an action in the past; it cannot be used to describe the starting point of an action which continues into the present.
1 until: 'Until' is used to indicate the time or moment when an action will finish. It can't be used to describe the starting point of an action which continues into the present.
2 for: The preposition 'for' can be used to indicate the duration of an action or event. Example: I have been living in France 'for' around five years. In this sentence, 'for' tells us 'how long' Harold has been yelling: hours. Note that 'for' is frequently used with a verb in the present perfect tense.
2 since: This is grammatically incorrect. We use the preposition 'since' to indicate the starting point of an action or event. Example: I have been living in France 'since' 2002, or 'since last year, I have gained 15 pounds'. 'Since' is often directly followed by a precise date or moment in time. Example: Since 1942, since January, since last week.
2 until: 'Until' is used to indicate the time or moment when an action will finish. It can't be used to describe duration of an action.
2 ago: The term 'ago' is used to situate an action in the past; it cannot be used to describe the starting point of an action which continues into the present.
3 when: We use the relative pronoun 'when' to refer to periods or moments of time. 'When' describes 'the moment that Harold left the building'.
3 where: In English, 'where' is never used in the relative sense to refer to a period of time. 'Where' is used to refer to location: Meet me at the place WHERE I first met you.
3 what: 'What' is used to replace general topics and subjects. We cannot use it here to refer to a moment in time.
练习 4
Bruno has been in a bad mood he arrived at work this morning. it's so rare that he acts this way, I don't think we should complain. Maybe we should buy him some flowers or that Napoleon doll he always talks about.
Bruno has been in a bad mood since 1 he arrived at work this morning. Since 2 it's so rare that he acts this way, I don't think we should complain. Maybe we should buy him some flowers or that Napoleon doll which 3 he always talks about.
1 since: 'Since' is the best choice here, because it indicates for how long Bruno has been in a bad mood. We use 'since' to say when the time period began, for example: I have been selling flowers since January last year.
1 when: We cannot use 'when' here, because it is preceded by 'has been' which introduces a time from the past to the present. We could say: 'Bruno WAS in a bad mood WHEN he showed up this morning', however this does not tell us if Bruno is still in a bad mood.
2 Since: This is the best choice here. 'Since' is often used in the same sense as 'because' to express reason, for example 'Since we have plenty of time, let's go and have a coffee'. Note that 'as' could also be used in this construction ('As I was hungry, I decided to have some lunch').
2 Therefore: 'Therefore' does not make any sense in this construction. It could be used in this alternative version, however the meaning is slightly different: It is so rare that Bruno acts this way, therefore I don't think we should complain.
3 which: We must use a relative pronoun here to refer to the Napoleon doll. 'Which' is the best choice in this case.
3 since: We cannot use 'since' here because we are not expressing 'why' or 'since when' Bruno liked Napoleon.
练习 5
Fill in the blanks using the words from the list below. Be careful! Some words may be used more than once, or not at all.
who | what | where | when | whose | which
Horatio was walking peacefully yesterday morning he discovered a brand new tricycle! Horatio, had never owned a tricycle in the Amazon, was so excited that he jumped right onto the tricycle and drove all the way to the office, he met Bruno. Bruno was a little upset to see a tricycle in the office, so he hopped onto his motorcycle, he keeps in his closet, and chased Horatio all the way to the laboratory!
who | what | where | when | whose | which
Horatio was walking peacefully yesterday morning he discovered a brand new tricycle! Horatio, had never owned a tricycle in the Amazon, was so excited that he jumped right onto the tricycle and drove all the way to the office, he met Bruno. Bruno was a little upset to see a tricycle in the office, so he hopped onto his motorcycle, he keeps in his closet, and chased Horatio all the way to the laboratory!
Fill in the blanks using the words from the list below. Be careful! Some words may be used more than once, or not at all.
who | what | where | when | whose | which
Horatio was walking peacefully yesterday morning when 1 he discovered a brand new tricycle! Horatio, who 2 had never owned a tricycle in the Amazon, was so excited that he jumped right onto the tricycle and drove all the way to the office, where 3 he met Bruno. Bruno was a little upset to see a tricycle in the office, so he hopped onto his motorcycle, which 4 he keeps in his closet, and chased Horatio all the way to the laboratory!
who | what | where | when | whose | which
Horatio was walking peacefully yesterday morning when 1 he discovered a brand new tricycle! Horatio, who 2 had never owned a tricycle in the Amazon, was so excited that he jumped right onto the tricycle and drove all the way to the office, where 3 he met Bruno. Bruno was a little upset to see a tricycle in the office, so he hopped onto his motorcycle, which 4 he keeps in his closet, and chased Horatio all the way to the laboratory!
1 when: This is the best choice here. We use the relative pronoun 'when' to refer to periods or moments of time. 'When' describes 'the moment when Horatio discovered a tricycle on the street.
2 who: This is the best choice here. We use the relative pronoun 'who' to refer to human subjects. 'Who' refers to 'Horatio' here.
3 where: 'Where' is the correct choice here. It refers to the location at which Horatio met Bruno (the office).
4 which: 'Which' is the correct choice here. It refers to the motorcycle which Bruno keeps in his closet.
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