2.14　关系副词why

关系副词why的用法较简单，其用法特点有：

1. why在定语从句中作原因状语，修饰从句的谓语动词；

2. 其前先行词必须是表示原因的名词，如reason, cause等；

3. 只引导限定性定语从句。这点不同于when和where。

请看例句：

1　This is the reason why I didn't come here.

精品译文　这就是我没来的原因。

2　Online shopping is becoming more and more popular in China. It either takes the form of B2C (business to customer) or C2C (customer to customer). The two major reasons why growth is slow are first, concerns about security and reliability and second, Chinese customers are used to haggling over prices in stores, a process which does not transfer to the Internet.

精品译文　在中国，网上购物日益流行。采取的方式通常为B2C（商家对顾客）或C2C（顾客对顾客）这两种。其发展缓慢的原因主要有两个，首先，是安全与可靠性的问题；其次，中国的顾客都喜欢讨价还价，但在网上却没有这个过程。

因为表示原因的名词很少，所以我们一般很少见到why引导的定语从句。另外，我们常常把表示原因的先行词省去，而只剩下why引导的从句，比如例句1可以说成：This is why I didn't come here.

思维训练

Exercise 2.12-2.14

选择最佳答案填空。

1. I know of a number of occasions 　　　 people died from water pollution.

A. which

B. when

C. where

D. while

2. There can't be any life on Venus, 　　　 the temperature is as high as 900°F.

A. which

B. when

C. where

D. there

3. The reason 　　　 he died was lack of medical care.

A. which

B. for that

C. as

D. why

4. Although he knew little about the large amount of work done in the field, he succeeded 　　　 other more well-informed experimenters failed.

A. which

B. that

C. what

D. where

5. We may encounter situations 　　　 this principle cannot be applied.

A. where

B. which

C. what

D. as

6. This is the shop 　　　 I often speak to you.

A. where

B. which

C. of which

D. in which

7. This is the shop 　　　 I often buy foodstuff.

A. where

B. which

C. of which

D. to which

8. When you read the book, you'd better make a mark 　　　 you have any questions.

A. at which

B. where

C. the place where

D. in which

9. He told us how he dealt with the self-interest of countries to bring them into a kind of international accord 　　　 everyone seemed to benefit.

A. where

B. which

C. that

D. what





2.15　关系副词有how吗？

我们知道，引导名词从句的连接副词有when, where, why和how四个，那么也许有读者会问：引导定语从句的关系副词有how吗？

事实上，how不可以作为表示方式的关系副词。在英语中，若要表示方式，我们用以下四种句型：

1. the way+从句

2. the way that+从句

3. the way in which+从句

4. the manner that+从句

所以我们看到，在英语中没有the way how+从句*这样的表达。请看例句：

1　During the 1940's science and engineering had an impact on the way that music reached its audience and even influenced the way in which it was composed.

妙语点睛　这里the way的后面分别接了两个不同的关系词that和in which。

精品译文　20世纪40年代，科学和工程学对听众收听音乐的方式有很大的影响，甚至影响到了音乐本身的创作方式。

2　You know the old golden rule, "Care for others the way you would like them to care for you."

妙语点睛　这里the way后面的关系词省去了，所以直接跟了从句you would like them to care for you。

精品译文　要记住这样一个真理——以希望别人对待你的方式来对待别人（己所不欲，勿施于人）。

3　Confidence is probably one of the most noticeable traits in the Americans. They show confidence in the way they talk, the way they smile, the way they dress and the way they walk.

妙语点睛　同例句2，这里the way后面的关系词省去了。

精品译文　美国人最大的特点之一就是他们的自信，这从他们的言谈、微笑、着装、行走等的方式中表露无遗。

4　Social science is that branch of intellectual enquiry which seeks to study humans and their endeavors in the same reasoned, orderly, systematic, and dispassioned manner that natural scientists use for the study of natural phenomena.

妙语点睛　这是2003年的考研英语翻译真题。这里的manner等同于way，后面接了关系词that来引导定语从句。

精品译文　社会科学是知识探索的一个分支，它力图像自然科学家研究自然现象那样，用理性的、有序的、系统的和冷静的方式研究人类及其行为。





2.16　关系词后带有插入语的定语从句

在接下来的三节中，我们要讨论三种结构较为复杂的定语从句：带有插入语的定语从句、并列定语从句和双层定语从句。

所谓带有插入语的定语从句，是指在某些定语从句的关系词后面紧跟着一个插入语。插入语可以分为两类：一类是插入一个主谓结构，另一类是插入其他各种成分，如插入各种从句。

2.16.1　定语从句的关系词后面插入一个主谓结构

定语从句的关系词后面插入的往往是一些表达个人主观观点的主谓结构，如they think, he said, they believe, he claimed, they assume等等。这些主谓结构紧跟在关系代词后面，但不影响定语从句原来的结构，因而并非构成定语从句的主谓语。带有插入语的定语从句的结构主要有两种：作主语的关系词+插入语+定语从句的谓语部分；作宾语的关系词+插入语+定语从句的主谓部分。

一、作主语的关系词+插入语+定语从句的谓语部分

1　Many students face problems when they have to study a subject that they think is difficult.

妙语点睛　我们看到，这里的定语从句本身的结构是that...is difficult，但现在关系代词that后面紧跟了一个插入语they think，于是便得到了一个带插入语的定语从句that they think is difficult。换句话说，定语从句的主语that和谓语部分is difficult被they think这个插入语分隔。

精品译文　很多学生如果必须学一门他们认为很难的课程时，就会遇到很多问题。

2　Sometimes the very things that we think are holding us down are the things that are helping us fly. That is what discipline is all about.

妙语点睛　我们看到，这里的定语从句本身的结构是that...are holding us down，但现在关系代词that后面紧跟了一个插入语we think，于是便得到了一个带插入语的定语从句that we think are holding us down。换句话说，定语从句的主语that和谓语部分are holding us down被we think这个插入语分隔。

精品译文　有时候我们认为正在拖我们后腿的东西其实正是帮助我们飞翔的东西，那就是纪律的含义所在。

这个句子来自于这样一个寓意深刻的故事：

What we think is pulling us down is really taking us up. That is what discipline is about. A boy was flying a kite with his father and asked his father what kept the kite up. Dad replied, "The string." The boy said, "Dad, it is the string that is holding the kite down." The father asked his son to watch as he broke the string. Guess what happened to the kite? It came down. Isn't that true in life? Sometimes the very things that we think are holding us down are the things that are helping us fly. That is what discipline is all about.

3　Nicael Holt, an Australian university student, had a smart idea about how to put some money in his pocket. Last week, he sold his lifestyle, which he said was relaxing and rewarding, for A$7, 500 (RMB45, 000).

妙语点睛　曾经在一份英语报纸上看到一篇文章，说一个澳大利亚的大学生为了挣钱，决定出卖自己的生活方式，让别人来过自己的生活，这个例句就是该篇文章中的两句话。我们看到，这里的定语从句本身的结构是which...was relaxing and rewarding，但现在关系代词which后面紧跟了一个插入语he said，于是便得到了一个带插入语的定语从句which he said was relaxing and rewarding。换句话说，定语从句的主语which和谓语was relaxing and rewarding被he said这个插入语分隔。

精品译文　尼克尔·霍尔特是澳大利亚的一名在校大学生，他想到了一个挣钱的好点子。上周，他把自己的生活方式以7, 500澳元（约合45, 000元人民币）的价格卖了出去。据他自己说，他的生活方式是非常轻松和有意义的。

4　Tax cuts have been on George W. Bush's mind since he became president of the United States. One of its first acts in government was to announce cuts which he claimed would give back US $1.6 trillion to the American people over 10 years.

妙语点睛　我们看到，这里的定语从句本身的结构是which...would give back...，但现在关系代词which后面紧跟了一个插入语he claimed，于是便得到了一个带插入语的定语从句which he claimed would give back...。换句话说，定语从句的主语which和谓语would give back被he claimed这个插入语分隔。

精品译文　减税是小布什当上美国总统以来一直想要推行的一项政策。他上台后的第一件事就是宣布实施这一政策，他声称该项措施在10年之内将会把1.6万亿美元重新还给美国人民。

5　Hilton is building its own hotel there, which you may be sure will be decorated with Hamlet Hamburger Bars, the Lear Lounge, the Banquo Banqueting Room, and so forth, and will be very expensive.

妙语点睛　我们看到，这里的定语从句本身的结构是which...will be decorated...，但现在关系代词which后面紧跟了一个插入语you may be sure，于是便得到了一个带插入语的定语从句which you may be sure will be decorated...。换句话说，定语从句的主语which和谓语will be decorated被you may be sure这个插入语分隔。

精品译文　希尔顿正在那里建设自己的饭店，也许可以肯定该饭店将会装备有“哈姆雷特”汉堡吧、“李尔王”休息厅、“班柯”宴会厅等等，该饭店将十分奢华。

（注：Hamlet, Lear和Banquo皆系莎士比亚所著悲剧中的主人公。因为本文讲的是关于莎士比亚的故乡Stratford-on-Avon的情况，所以出现用莎翁剧中的人物来命名各餐厅饮酒吧，以吸引游客。）

二、作宾语的关系词+插入语+定语从句的主谓部分

6　The millionaire had a very ugly girl who I could not have dreamed many boys fell in love with.

妙语点睛　我们看到，这里的定语从句本身的结构是who...many boys fell in love with，关系词who作介词with的宾语。但现在关系代词who后面紧跟了一个插入语I could not have dreamed，于是便得到了一个带插入语的定语从句who I could not have dreamed many boys fell in love with。换句话说，定语从句的宾语who和定语从句的主谓语many boys fell in love with被I could not have dreamed这个插入语分隔。

精品译文　这个百万富翁有一个十分丑陋的女儿，可是让我难以想象的是，竟然有很多男孩子在追求她。

7　What is harder to establish is whether the productivity revolution that businessmen assume they are presiding over is for real.

妙语点睛　我们看到，这里的定语从句本身的结构是that...they are presiding over...，关系词that作介词over的宾语。但现在关系代词that后面紧跟了一个插入语businessmen assume，于是便得到了一个带插入语的定语从句that businessmen assume they are presiding over...。换句话说，定语从句的宾语that和定语从句的主谓语they are presiding over被businessmen assume这个插入语分隔。

精品译文　商界人士自以为他们正在进行一场生产力革命，但这是否是真正意义上的生产力革命，对此更加难以证实。

值得注意的是，正如上文所讲过的，插入语是不影响定语从句本身的结构的，所以不能在这种特殊的定语从句中随便添加连词，比如这个定语从句不能改成that businessmen assume that they are presiding over is for real*。若是不知道这是插入语结构，考生就很可能会误认为businessmen assume that they are presiding over...是宾语从句结构。这看上去的确很像，但其实over是缺少宾语的，从句不是一个完整的结构，无法构成名词从句。类似这种错误的句子在考研改错题中曾出现过。

8　They pointed out (A) the damage which (B) they supposed that (C) had been done by last night's (D) storm.

正确答案　C，应把that去掉。

妙语点睛　这是1997年的考研真题。这里的定语从句本身的结构应该是which...had been done by last night's storm，修饰前面的名词damage。但现在关系代词which后面紧跟了一个插入语they supposed，所以此时带插入语的定语从句应该是which they supposed had been done by last night's storm，而不是which they supposed that had been done by last night's storm，即这里不能添加连词that。

精品译文　他们指出了这些损坏，他们认为这是由昨晚的暴风雪造成的。

三、what引导的从句中带一个主谓结构的插入语

此外，作插入语的主谓结构也可放在what引导的从句中，请看下面这道考研题：

9　There was a very interesting remark in a book by an Englishman that I read recently giving what he thought was a reason for this American characteristic.

图解难句



there was a very interesting remark 中心词remark

in a book 介词短语，修饰remark

by an Englishman 修饰book的并列定语1

that I read recently 修饰book的并列定语2

giving what he thought was a reason for this American characteristic 分词短语，修饰remark


分词短语的结构图示：



妙语点睛　对于这个句子，也许有考生在读完第一遍之后感觉有点迷惑，不知道该如何确切理解它的意思。如果是这样，那是因为没有理清楚该句中的定语结构。这个句子的定语结构稍微有一点复杂，既有“并联”定语，又有“串联”定语。

首先，名词短语remark in a book by an Englishman带有“串联”型定语结构，其中，介词短语in a book修饰remark，介词短语by an Englishman修饰book。其次，这句带有两组“并联”型定语。第一组是名词短语a book by an Englishman that I read recently中含有的两个并列定语，即中心词book带有两个“并联”定语：介词短语by an Englishman和定语从句that I read recently，所以这个短语的意思就是“我最近看过的、由英国人写的一本书”。第二组带“并联”定语的是名词短语remark in a book by an Englishman that I read recently giving what he thought was a reason for this American characteristic，这个短语比较复杂，它的中心词是remark，remark带有两个“并联”定语：介词短语in a book by an Englishman that I read recently和分词短语giving what he thought was a reason for this American characteristic，这两个并列定语都很复杂。第一个定语我们刚才分析过，就是其中的中心词book带有的两个并列定语by an Englishman和that I read recently。第二个定语是由分词giving与宾语从句what he thought was a reason for this American characteristic构成。在这个宾语从句中，he thought是插入语，所以宾语从句的核心结构是what...was a reason for this American characteristic，即what作宾语从句的主语，was a reason for this American characteristic是系表结构。而he thought并非宾语从句的主语和谓语。这一点可能有读者会误解。

这里的关键是要看到giving的逻辑主语是remark，换句话说，分词短语giving what he thought was a reason for this American characteristic是修饰remark的，但它被remark的第一个定语in a book by an Englishman that I read recently所隔开。

精品译文　我最近看过一本书，它是由一个英国人写的，我还记得书里有一句十分有趣的话，作者认为这句话说明了美国人为什么是这种性格。

2.16.2　定语从句的关系词后面插入一个其他成分

我们上面讨论的带插入语的定语从句，所插入的结构都是一个表示个人观点的“主谓结构”，但关系词后面还可以插入其他结构，尤其是各类从句。请看例句：

1　Real friends are those who, when you've made a fool of yourself, don't feel that you've done a permanent job.

图解难句



妙语点睛　我们看到，该句的插入成分是一个when引导的时间从句，而不是一个主谓结构。具体来说，定语从句的关系词who后面带有插入语when you've made a fool of yourself，分隔了who与定语从句的谓语部分don't feel that you've done a permanent job，其中who充当定语从句的主语。

精品译文　真正的朋友就是，即使你出了洋相，他们也不会认为你以后还会这样。

2　Our limited thinking prevents us from progress. There was a fisherman who, every time he caught a big fish, would throw it back into the river, keeping only the smaller ones. A man watching this unusual behavior asked the fisherman why he was doing this. The fisherman replied: "Because I have a small frying pan." Most people never make it in life because they are carrying a small frying pan. That is limited thinking.

妙语点睛　我们看到，这篇短文第二句的插入成分是一个every time引导的时间从句，而不是一个主谓结构。具体来说，定语从句的关系词who后面带有插入语every time he caught a big fish，分隔了who与定语从句的谓语部分would throw it back into the river，其中who充当定语从句的主语。

精品译文　我们局限性的思维会阻碍我们进步。比如，有个渔夫，每次捕到大鱼时都会把它丢回河里，而只把个头比较小的鱼留下。有个人看到了渔夫这种不寻常的行为，就问他为什么这样做。渔夫回答说：“因为我家只有一只很小的平底锅。”大部分人在生活中不能成功就是因为他们只带着一只小平底锅。这就是局限性的思维。

3　The casino issued to him, as a good customer, a "Fun Card", which when used in the casino earns points for meals and drinks, and enables the casino to track the user's gambling activities.

图解难句



妙语点睛　我们看到，这个插入语结构是一个省略形式的状语从句：when (it is) used in the casino，省去了it is，it指Fun Card，而定语从句本身的结构是which earns points for meals and drinks, and enables the casino to track the user's gambling activities。究其原因，我们不难发现，若是把这个省略的状语从句when used in the casino放在定语从句的末尾便成了which earns points for meals and drinks, and enables the casino to track the user's gambling activities when used in the casino，但由于定语从句的谓语部分（earns...and enables...）过长，这样就会使when引导的从句的意思与Fun Card有脱节之嫌，所以为了表意上的需要而将when引导的从句提前。

精品译文　赌场认为他是一个好顾客，就发给他一张“乐趣卡”，在赌场使用这张卡时，该卡可以为他赢得餐饮积分，但同时也可以使赌场追踪持卡者的赌博活动。

我们再来看一个插入语不是从句的例子：

4　When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives means the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving much advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a gentle and tender hand.

妙语点睛　我们看到，这句话在定语从句的主语who和谓语have chosen之间插入了一个介词短语instead of giving much advice, solutions, or cures。

精品译文　当我们坦率地问自己，哪种人在我们的生活中对我们最具有意义时，我们常常会发现，不是那些给我们很多劝告、答案或对策的人，而是那些选择分担我们的痛苦，用温柔而亲切的手抚慰我们创伤的人。

思维总结

我们可以从以下两方面来把握带有插入语的定语从句：

1. 插入语的结构特点

这是关于插入语本身结构的问题。由以上的论述可知，插入语可以分为两类：一类是插入一个主谓结构，另一类是插入其他各种成分，尤其是插入各种从句。

2. 插入语的位置特点

这是指插入语在定语从句中的位置。从以上例句我们看到，插入语一般只能放在定语从句的关系词后面。

思维训练

Exercise 2.16

1. 选择最佳答案填空。

1. Many students face problems when they have to study a subject 　　　.

A. that they think it is difficult

B. that they think is difficult

C. which they think that is difficult

D. they think it is difficult

2. He has made a discovery, 　　　 of great importance to the progress of science and technology.

A. I think which is

B. which I think is

C. which I think it is

D. of which I think it is

3. They pointed out the damage 　　　 had been done by last night's storm.