张老师：

你好！我在高中英语教学中遇到这样一个选择题：

Do you know the fire 　　　 yesterday?

A. which broke out

B. breaking out

答案是A，但是B选项怎样讲给学生呢？

对于这个问题，我相信，聪明的读者应该能够帮助他回答了。这就是关于分词的时间与句子谓语的时间要一致的问题。句子谓语动作的时间与分词动作的时间要一致，否则只好用定语从句。这个句子就是遇到了不一致的情况：由do知道句子的谓语是现在时态，而由yesterday知道分词是过去时态，所以此时只好用定语从句。故A即which broke out正确，而B即breaking out违背了这个一致性原则。所以这句话应该说成：

Do you know the fire which broke out yesterday?

而不能说：

Do you know the fire breaking out yesterday?*

精品译文　你知道昨天发生的那场大火吗？

如果将Do you know the fire breaking out?改成定语从句后只能是Do you know the fire which is breaking out now?那么翻译成中文的意思就是“你知道现在正在燃烧的大火吗？”此时就不能用yesterday这样的表示过去时间的状语。

综上所述，分词动作的时间一般须与句子谓语的时间一致，若不一致则不能用分词造句，而只能用定语从句。

二、可以简化成分词短语的定语从句

在搞清楚了上面的结论之后，我们现在来具体讨论定语从句的简化问题。一般来说，定语从句的主动式可以转换成现在分词短语，因为现在分词表示主动的动作；定语从句的被动式可以转换成过去分词短语，因为过去分词通常表示被动的动作。

首先，我们来看主从句谓语动词的时间一致的情形，包括主句的谓语和从句的谓语同为现在时间或同为过去时间这两种情形。

1. 主从句的谓语同为现在时间

（1）主从句的谓语动词的动作都是现在的一般的动作，即为一般现在时态。比如：

3　1) China is a developing country which belongs to the third world. ?

2) China is a developing country belonging to the third world.

妙语点睛　主句的谓语is与定语从句的谓语belongs同为一般现在时态，且从句是主动语态，所以从句的主谓结构which belongs可以简化为一个现在分词belonging，这是现在分词表示主动的、一般的动作。

精品译文　中国还是一个发展中国家，属于第三世界国家。

4　1) They live in a room that faces the south.

2) They live in a room facing the south.

妙语点睛　主句的谓语live与定语从句的谓语faces同为一般现在时态，且从句是主动语态，所以从句的主谓结构that faces可以简化为一个现在分词facing，这是现在分词表示主动的、一般的动作。

精品译文　他们住在一间朝南的房子里。

5　1) English has an alphabet that consists of 26 letters.

2) English has an alphabet consisting of 26 letters.

妙语点睛　主句的谓语has与定语从句的谓语consists同为一般现在时态，且从句是主动语态，所以从句的主谓结构that consists可以简化为一个现在分词consisting，这是现在分词表示主动的、一般的动作。

精品译文　英语字母表是由26个字母组成的。

在以上例句中，从句的谓语是主动结构，我们再来看下面从句的谓语是被动结构的句子：

6　1) Books which are written in English are more expensive.

2) Books written in English are more expensive.

妙语点睛　主句的谓语are与定语从句的谓语are written同为一般现在时态，且从句是被动语态，所以从句的主谓结构which are written可以简化为一个过去分词written，这是过去分词表示被动的、一般的动作。

精品译文　英文书一般都较贵。

（2）主从句的时间都表示现在，但主句的谓语表示一般状态，而从句的谓语表示现在进行的动作。比如：

7　1) Do you know the boy who is playing the violin?

2) Do you know the boy playing the violin?

妙语点睛　主句的谓语do与定语从句的谓语is playing同为现在时态，但主句是一般现在时态，而从句是现在进行时态，所以从句的主谓结构who is playing可以简化为一个现在分词playing，这是现在分词表示主动的、现在进行的动作。

精品译文　你认识那个正在拉小提琴的男孩吗？

8　1) The man who is standing at the gate is my English teacher.

2) The man standing at the gate is my English teacher.

妙语点睛　主句的谓语is与定语从句的谓语is standing同为现在时态，但主句是一般现在时态，而从句是现在进行时态，所以从句的主谓结构who is standing可以简化为一个现在分词standing，这是现在分词表示主动的、现在进行的动作。

精品译文　站在大门口的那个男子是我的英文老师。

在以上例句中，从句的谓语是主动进行结构，我们再来看下面从句的谓语是被动进行结构的句子：

9　1) The car that is being repaired is mine.

2) The car being repaired is mine.

妙语点睛　主句的谓语is与定语从句的谓语is being repaired同为现在时态，但主句是一般现在时态，而从句是现在进行时态，且为被动语态，所以从句的主谓结构that is being repaired可以简化为一个现在分词的被动形式being repaired，表示被动的、现在进行的动作。

精品译文　现在正在修的那辆汽车是我的。

2. 主从句的谓语同为过去时间

请看例句：

10　1) He used to live in the house which faced south.

2) He used to live in the house facing south.

妙语点睛　主句的谓语used to live与定语从句的谓语faced同为一般过去时态，且从句是主动语态，所以从句的主谓结构which faced可以简化为一个现在分词facing，这是现在分词表示主动的、一般的动作。

精品译文　他曾经住在一间朝南的房子里。

11　1) The man who stole into the room was caught immediately.

2) The man stealing into the room was caught immediately.

妙语点睛　主句的谓语was caught与定语从句的谓语stole同为一般过去时态，且从句是主动语态，所以从句的主谓结构who stole可以简化为一个现在分词stealing，这是现在分词表示主动的、一般的动作。

精品译文　偷偷溜进房间里的那个男子立即被逮住了。

3. 主从句的谓语时间不一致

在某些特殊情况下，尽管主句与从句谓语的时间不一致，但在不影响句子意思表达的情况下，可以把定语从句简化为分词短语。比如在下面这句话中，从句的谓语是现在进行时态，而主句的谓语是一般过去时态：

12　1) The girl who is playing basketball used to be very weak.

2) The girl playing basketball used to be very weak.

妙语点睛　现在分词表示主动的、进行的动作。

精品译文　正在踢足球的那个姑娘以前曾经身体瘦弱。

再比如在下面这句话中，从句的谓语是一般过去时态，而主句的谓语是一般现在时态：

13　1) The car that was repaired yesterday by him is mine.

2) The car repaired yesterday by him is mine.

妙语点睛　过去分词表示被动的、一般的动作。

精品译文　昨天修的那辆汽车是我的。

但是，若简化后影响了句子意思的表达，则只能保留定语从句，而不能简化为分词。比如我们上面讨论过的这个句子Do you know the boy who broke the window?不能简化的各种具体原因我们接下来进行讨论。

三、无法简化成分词短语的定语从句

1. 因时态限制不能转换

一般来讲，若从句谓语动作发生的时间先于主句谓语动作发生的时间，此时从句不能简化为分词。比如上面讲过的例句：

14　Do you know the boy who broke the window?

就属于这种情况，这里从句的谓语broke发生在过去，先于主句谓语的发生的时间。再比如：

15　The girl who stood at the gate yesterday is my sister.

若简化为分词说成：

16　The girl standing at the gate yesterday is my sister.

那么根据现在分词作定语的特点，还原后只能是：

17　The girl who is standing at the gate yesterday is my sister.

此外，因为分词的完成式having done或having been done这两种形式都是不能用作定语的（详见6.5.2小节），所以当定语从句的时态为完成时态的时候，也不能将从句简化为分词。比如：

18　Those who have finished their exercises may go now.

一般不用having done的形式作定语说成：

19　Those having finished their exercises may go now. *

英语中没有这样的句子构造形式。

精品译文　那些已经做完练习的人现在可能走了。

2. 定语从句中含有情态动词时

如果定语从句中含有情态动词，具有特定的情态含义，那么若简化为分词，则会失去情态的意味，因此一般不能简化。比如：

20　Is there anyone who can answer the question?

这句话里含有can，所以不能简化为分词说成：

21　Is there anyone answering the question?*

精品译文　有人能回答这个问题吗？

不过帮助构成将来时的will和shall不在此列。比如：

22　1) The boy who will come to see you tomorrow will bring you that book.

2) The boy coming to see you tomorrow will bring you that book.

精品译文　明天要来看你的那个男孩会把那本书带给你。

3. 定语从句由be动词作谓语时

23　Those who are busy don't have to go.

不能简化为分词说成：

24　Those being busy don't have to go. *

因为在英语中，“being+形容词”这样的结构不能作后置定语。

精品译文　那些正在忙着的人不必去。

4. 在一些特殊的句子里，有时由于语义上的原因，不能转换

25　The man who cooked for the students has died.

这里从句的谓语cooked是过去时态，主句的谓语has died是现在完成时态。如果改写成分词后说成：

26　The man cooking for the students has died. *

那么根据现在分词作定语的特点，还原后只能是：

27　The man who is cooking/cooks for the students has died. *

这里，一方面从句谓语is cooking或cooks表明这个人现在还活着，现在还在为学生们做饭，另一方面主句的谓语has died却说他已经死了，这造成主句与从句的意思相悖。所以保留定语从句的过去时态cooked，意思是：

精品译文　曾经为学生们做饭的那位男厨师已经去世。

7.2.4　定语从句与不定式

上面讨论的主要是将定语从句替换成分词的形式，这是因为分词具备形容词的功能，主要用来作定语。而不定式也可当作形容词来用，在句中作定语。一般来说，被the only，the last，the next，序数词和最高级形容词修饰的名词，其后所接的定语从句往往要用不定式来替换。

1　1) You are the only one that can understand me.

2) You are the only one to understand me.

精品译文　你是唯一能够理解我的人。

2　1) The next train that arrives is from New York.

2) The next train to arrive is from New York.

精品译文　下一列到达的火车是从纽约开来的。

3　1) Clint was the second person that fell into this trap.

2) Clint was the second person to fall into this trap.

精品译文　克林特是第二个掉进陷阱的人。

思维总结

在本节中，读者首先要明确一点：把定语从句简化为非谓语的形式是以明晰性（clarity）为代价的，即逻辑语义关系的明晰性降低了，意思变得模糊了。本节重点讨论了分词与定语从句之间的关系，强调了分词动作的时间要通过句子谓语动作的时间体现出来，且两者一般是一致的，即所谓的分词动作的时间与句子谓语的时间一致性原则。这个原则对定语从句的简化有重要影响，可能直接导致某些定语从句不能简化为分词短语。

思维训练

Exercise 7.2.2

1. 把下列定语从句简化为短语。

1. The train that is approaching the station is from Shanghai.

2. The woman who lives next door is very friendly.

3. The people who are waiting for the bus in the rain are getting wet.

4. The scientists who are researching the causes of cancer are making progress.

5. Our school has a library which was built in 1900.

6. The car which caused the accident drove off.

7. We lived in an apartment that overlooked the sea.

8. Oceans continually lose by evaporation much of the river water that is constantly flowing into them.

9. Tornadoes（龙卷风）occur most often in the spring when hot winds that rise over flat land encounter heavy, cold air.

10. I don't think he is the best man that can do the job.

11. He thought that it might not be the best time that he should ask his boss for a raise.

12. Trains which leave from this station take an hour to get to London.

13. Clint was the only person that survived the air crash.

14. He was the last man that left the sinking ship.

15. Be sure to follow the instructions that are given at the top of the page.

16. The psychologists who study the nature of sleep have made important discoveries.

17. The conclusion which is presented in that book states that most of the automobiles which are produced by American industry have some defect.

2. 把下列作定语的分词短语还原成定语从句。

18. There is almost no end to the problems facing a head of state.

19. The photographs published in the newspaper were extraordinary.

20. Did you get the message concerning the special meeting?

21. The woman waiting to see you has applied for a job here.

22. The plane flying overhead is traveling north.

23. The sunlight coming through the window wakes me up early every morning.

24. Two-thirds of those arrested of car theft are under twenty years of age.

25. The man serving at the counter is very helpful.

26. This job will suit students wanting to work during the holidays.

27. There's someone knocking at the door.

28. Customers complaining about the service should see the manager.

29. Passengers traveling on planes shouldn't smoke.





7.3　状语从句的简化

首先，我们还是要搞清楚在什么情况下状语从句才可能被简化。一般来说，只有当状语从句的主语和主句的主语相同时，才能把状语从句换成短语。否则，会引起句义的改变。例如：

While the teacher was lecturing to the class, I fell asleep.

妙语点睛　这里从句的主语是the teacher，而主句的主语是I，两者不一致，因此状语从句不能简化成短语。此句若简化成现在分词短语说成：While lecturing to the class, I fell asleep.意思则是“当我在给这个班上课时，我睡着了”，这样显然不妥。

精品译文　在老师上课的时候，我睡着了。

在三大非谓语当中，只有不定式和分词才可能作状语，因而状语从句自然也只能简化成这两种非谓语形式。

7.3.1　状语从句与分词

由于分词具有副词的功能，可以在句中作状语，所以状语从句往往可以简化成分词短语。具体的简化操作是：如果状语从句中含有be动词，我们只需把从句主语和be动词省去，即简化成短语。对于这种简化方式，其实我们在第三章“状语从句”的3.2节讨论过，在此仅举几例予以说明。比如：

1　1) A zero can have its meaning only when it is used with real numbers; thoughts can give off brilliant light only when they are put into actions.

2) A zero can have its meaning only when used with real numbers; thoughts can give off brilliant light only when put into actions.

妙语点睛　这里两个when引导的从句中分别省去了it is和they are。这里的it指主句的主语zero，they指主句的主语thoughts。

精品译文　零，只有和实数用在一起才有意义；思想，只有付诸行动才能发出光芒。

2　1) A tiger can't be tamed unless it is caught very young.

2) A tiger can't be tamed unless caught very young.

妙语点睛　这里unless引导的从句中省略了it is。这里的it指主句的主语tiger。

精品译文　老虎只有在年幼时抓来才能被驯服。

如果状语从句中没有be动词，我们则可把从句的主语省去并且把动词变成现在分词-ing形式。对于这种状语从句的简化，其实就相当于分词作状语，详见6.2节。在此仅举几例予以说明。比如：

3　1) Since I came to Beijing, I have made many new friends.

2) Since coming to Beijing, I have made many new friends.

精品译文　来到北京之后我交了很多朋友。

4　1) After I finished my homework, I fed the dog.

2) After finishing my homework, I fed the dog.

精品译文　做完作业，我就喂狗了。

5　1) After he jumped out of a boat, the man was bitten by a shark.

2) After jumping out of a boat, the man was bitten by a shark.

精品译文　那名男子从船上跳出后，就被一条鲨鱼咬了。

7.3.2　状语从句与不定式

能够简化为不定式的状语从句一般只有目的状语从句，因为在英语中，作目的状语几乎成了不定式的专属功能。详见3.5节。在此仅举几例予以说明。比如：

1　1) I turned off the TV in order that my roommate could study in peace and quiet.

2) I turned off the TV in order for my roommate to study in peace and quiet.

精品译文　我关掉了电视，好让我的室友安静地学习。

2　1) I spoke slowly and clearly so that/in order that the audience could understand me.

2) I spoke slowly and clearly in order for the audience to understand me.

精品译文　我讲得既慢又清晰，以便观众能听懂我的话。

3　1) They carved the words on the stone so that/in order that the future generation should remember what they had done.

2) They carved the words on the stone in order for the future generation to remember what they had done.

精品译文　他们在石头上刻字，以便后人记住他们做过的事情。

4　1) The teacher raised his voice in order that the students in the back could hear more clearly.

2) The teacher raised his voice in order for the students in the back to hear more clearly.

精品译文　老师提高了声音，以便坐在后排的学生能听得更清楚。

思维训练

Exercise 7.3

把下列能够简化的状语从句简化为短语，对于不能简化的，请说明原因。

1. While I was waiting for the bus, a brick fell on my head.

2. After I turned to the corner, I saw a tile fall off the roof.

3. After I turned to the corner, a tile fell off the roof.

4. When I opened the door of the refrigerator, the smell was bad.

5. While I was watching TV last night, the telephone rang.

6. Before I came to class, I had a cup of coffee.

7. After he had finished breakfast, he left the house and went to his office.

8. After she had completed her shopping, she went home.

9. Alex hurt his back while he was chopping wood.

10. You should always read a contract before you sign your name.

11. While I was trying to get to sleep last night, a mosquito kept buzzing in my ear.

12. Since we arrived here, we have made many new friends.

13. After we looked at the map, we tried to find the right street.

写给读者的话

一、从句与非谓语的相关性

本书的前三章讨论了英语中的三大从句：名词从句、定语从句和状语从句；在紧接下来的三章讨论了英语中的三大非谓语：不定式、动名词和分词。通过本章内容的讲解，现在我们来简单比较一下从句与非谓语的相关性。如下图所示：



这里的粗箭头（）表示关系更密切，而细箭头（）则表示关系不密切。

从上图我们可以有以下发现：

第一，名词从句一般仅与动名词和不定式有关，其中与动名词的关系更密切。

第二，定语从句一般仅与分词和不定式有关，其中与分词的关系更密切。

第三，状语从句一般仅与分词和不定式有关，其中与分词的关系更密切。

换个角度来看，从非谓语的角度来分析，结论如下：

第一，不定式像是一个“万金油”，与三大从句都有联系，但联系都不是非常密切。这也就是它“不定（indefinite）”的真正含义。

第二，相比较不定式而言，动名词则表现得比较“单纯”，它只与名词从句发生关系，而且关系非常密切，二者可以互换。动名词与定语从句和状语从句都没有联系。

第三，分词则与英语中的两大重要从句即定语从句和状语从句均有密切关系，由此可见分词的重要地位。而分词与名词从句没有什么联系。

最后，从难易程度来看，结论如下：

第一，名词从句和动名词是最简单的。结构简单，内容较少，容易掌握。