有许多试题,由于同学们对句子结构分析不对,尤其是对句中的逗号判断失误,从而导致一些想当然的错误。试举几例:
 
1. If a book is in English, _____ means slow progress for you.

A. as        B. which      C. what        D. that

此题容易误选 A或B,想当然地根据空格前的逗号认为这是非限制性定语从句。这样分析的同学,主要是忽略了前一句句首的B if。其实此题应选D,逗号前是一个条件状语从句,逗号后是该状语从句的主句,that 在此代表前文所述的情况,用作主句的主语。同样地,下面几题也应选 that,而不选 which:

(1) If he’s only interested in your looks, _____ just shows how shallow he is.

A. as        B. which      C. what        D. that

(2) If you want to go, _______is quite all right with me.

A. that       B. which       C. and it         D. so

(3) When I say two hours, _____ includes time for eating.

A. as        B. which      C. what        D. that

(4) If you want a double room , _____ will cost another £15.

A. as        B. which      C.  what       D. that

(5) If you have the money, _____ will be OK.

A. as        B. which      C. and it        D. that

下例也选 that 而不选Y: 'Times New which,其中 that 表示“那”:

Unless I’m very much mistaken, ______ is my watch you’re wearing!

A. as        B. which      C. what        D. that


2. Not far from the school there was a garden, _____ owner seated in it playing chess with his little grandson every afternoon.

A. its       B. whose       C. which      D. that

此题很容易误选B,许多同学想当然地认为句中逗号后是一个非限制性的定语从句,whose 在定语从句中用作定语修饰其后的名词 owner。此分析从表面上看,似乎天衣无缝,但实质上是错的,原因是空格后根本不是一个句子,因为它没有谓语。尽管句中有两个动词,但它们都是非谓语动词。也许有的同学会问,其中的 seated 不可用作谓语动词吗?不能。因为seat 用作动词时,它总是及物的,其后要么接宾语,要么它就用于被动语态,所以若在 seated 前加上助动词 is,则可以选择B(当然若将 seated 改为 seated sitting,也应选择B)。所以此题最佳答案选A。请再看一个类似的例子:

(1) He wrote a lot of novels, many of _____ translated into foreign languages.

A. it      B. them       C. which     D. that

(2) He wrote a lot of novels, many of _____ were translated into foreign languages.

A. it      B. them       C. which     D. that

第(1)题应选B,而不能选C,是因为句中的 translated 是过去分词(非谓语动词),若选C,则该从句无谓语;第(2)题应选C,因为句中有谓语 were translated。再请看下面一例:

(3) He wrote a lot of novels, and many of _____ were translated into foreign languages.

A. it      B. them       C. which     D. that

此题与上面的第(2)题不同,两句间多了一个并列连词and,说明这是一个并列句,故应选B,则不能选C。

请做做以下三题(答案均为B):

(1) There I met several people, two of _____ being foreigners.

A. which     B. them       C. whom      D. that

(2) There I met several people, two of _____ were foreigners.

A. which     B. whom       C. who      D. that

(3) There I met several people, and two of _____ were foreigners.

A. which     B. them       C. whom      D. that

3. _____ is known to everybody, the moon travels round the earth once every month.

A. It                B. As              C. That           D. What

此题很容易误选 A,认为此处应填一个形式主语,况且 It is (well) known to … 也是一个常用句型,读起来也很上口,但是选A错了。同学们仔细想想看,假若选 A,空格处填一个形式主语(it),那么其后就应有一个真正的主语,但事实上没有。但是若句中的逗号改成 that,则只能选 A,that 便成为一个引导主语从句的引导词。此题的最佳答案是 B,as 引导的是一个非限制性定语从句,可置于主句前(常译为“正如”)或主句后(常译为“这一点“”),句意为“正如大家所知,月球每月绕地球转一周”。

4. He is always really rude, ______ is why people tend to avoid him.

A. that            B. it             C. this            D. which

此题容易误选 A,因为 that’s why … 是一个常用表达,同学们极易受此影响而选错,当然若此句的空格前有连词 and 或其前的逗号改为分号,则完全可选that(分别构成并列句和两个独立的简单句)。此题的最佳答案是 D,句子后半部分为一个非限制性定语从句,which 指 He is always really rude. 另外请比较以下两题(注意连词的有无):

(1) He had a lot of friends, none of ______ could lend him any money.

A. whom         B. them           C. which          D. who

(2) He had a lot of friends, but none of ______ could lend him any money.

A. whom         B. them           C. which          D. who

第(1)第题选A,none of whom could … 为非限制性定语从句;第(2)题选B,由于句中有并列连词 but,整个句子为并列句。

5. He wrote a lot of novels, none of ______ translated into a foreign language.

A. them              B. which          C. it              D. what

同学们看了上面一题的分析后,也许会毫不犹豫地认为此题应选 B,理由是none前没有并列连词 and 或 but,其实这次又错了。此题的最佳选项应是A,其实这次又错了。此题的最佳选项应是,注意此句与上面一句有着本质的不同,即此句的 translated 不是谓语,而是一个非谓语动词(过去分词),所以逗号后面其实不是一个完整的句子,而是一个独立结构。假若在 translated 前加一个助动词 was,则此题应选 B(which),构成一个非限制性定语从句。所以做这类题要特别小心,千万不要想当然,更不要受定势思维的影响。又如:

(1) I met several people there, two of ______ were foreigners.

A. whom        B. themA.           C. who            D. which

(2) I met several people there, two of ______ being foreigners.

A. whom        B. them          C. who            D. which

第(1)题选A,two of whom were foreigners 为非限制性定语从句;第(2)题选B,two of them being foreigners 不是一个完整的句子,因为句子没有谓语,而只有非谓语动词 being。