英語緊縮定語從句詳解

1. 緊縮定語從句的概念

所謂緊縮定語從句就是指把一個定語從句緊縮成“介詞+關系代詞+不定式”結構。這類結構主要用于正式文體中。如：

She must have time in which she can grow calm.=She must have time in which to grow calm. 她必須有冷靜下來時的時間。

Allow me one minute in which I can change my clothes. =Allow me one minute in which to change my clothes. 給我一點時間換衣服。

He was miserable unless he had neighbors with whom he could quarrel.=He was miserable unless he had neighbors with whom to quarrel. 他要是沒有鄰居吵架就難受。

She had some money in the bank, with which she could help her mother.=She had some money in the bank, with which to help her mother. 她銀行里有些錢用來幫助她的母親。

2. 緊縮定語從句的省略

若語義清楚，且結構恰當，“介詞+關系代詞+不定式”結構有時可進一步將其中的關系代詞省略，而只保留介詞和不定式(介詞要移至不定式之后，且當意思明確時，有時可以省略該介詞)。如：

She must have time to grow calm (in). 她必須有冷靜下來時的時間。

Allow me one minute to change my clothes (in). 給我一點時間換衣服。

He was miserable unless he had neighbors to quarrel with. 他要是沒有鄰居吵架就難受。

It’s reported that the city needs more land to build houses on. 據報道，這座城市需要更多的土地來建房。

3. 緊縮定語從句的易錯點

(1) 不可缺少的介詞：并不是所有的定語從句都可以緊縮成“介詞+關系代詞+不定式”結構的。一般說來，只有當引導定語從句的關系代詞用作介詞的賓語時，才可以這樣用。如：

你和住在隔壁的那個人說過話嗎?

正：Have you ever spoken to the man who lives next door?

誤：Have you ever spoken to the man who to live next door?

(2) 介詞位置：“介詞+關系代詞+不定式”結構中的介詞不僅不能沒有，并且該介詞也不能放到不定式的后面去。如：

在那兒孩子們有個玩耍的花園(www.hz123456.com)。

正：There the children had a garden in which they could play. (定語從句)

正：There the children had a garden in which to play. (緊縮定語從句)

正：There the children had a garden to play in. (不定式作定語)

誤：There the children had a garden which to play in.(不能將介詞置于不定式之后)