英語(yǔ)緊縮定語(yǔ)從句詳解

1. 緊縮定語(yǔ)從句的概念

所謂緊縮定語(yǔ)從句就是指把一個(gè)定語(yǔ)從句緊縮成“介詞+關(guān)系代詞+不定式”結(jié)構(gòu)。這類結(jié)構(gòu)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(shí)的時(shí)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(diǎn)時(shí)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(yǔ)從句的省略

若語(yǔ)義清楚，且結(jié)構(gòu)恰當(dāng)，“介詞+關(guān)系代詞+不定式”結(jié)構(gòu)有時(shí)可進(jìn)一步將其中的關(guān)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(dāng)意思明確時(shí)，有時(shí)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(shí)的時(shí)間。

Allow me one minute to change my clothes (in). 給我一點(diǎn)時(shí)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(jù)報(bào)道，這座城市需要更多的土地來建房。

3. 緊縮定語(yǔ)從句的易錯(cuò)點(diǎn)

(1) 不可缺少的介詞：并不是所有的定語(yǔ)從句都可以緊縮成“介詞+關(guān)系代詞+不定式”結(jié)構(gòu)的。一般說來，只有當(dāng)引導(dǎo)定語(yǔ)從句的關(guān)系代詞用作介詞的賓語(yǔ)時(shí)，才可以這樣用。如：

你和住在隔壁的那個(gè)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(guān)系代詞+不定式”結(jié)構(gòu)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(gè)玩耍的花園(www.hz123456.com)。

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

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

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

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