定语从句是大学英语四级考试中测试的重点项目之一，笔者近来对大学英语考试样题、曝光试题及其它相关试题进行了研究。本文主要以四级考试样题和真题为例，将英语定语从句归纳为五大类型，这五大类型既是《大学英语教学大纲》中规定的学习重点，也是四级考试的重点，学生应熟练掌握。
1．由单个关系代词和关系副词引导的定语从句
定语从句可由单个的关系代词that， which，who，whom，whose和单个的关系副词 when，where，why来引导。在四级考试中，往往测试考生正确选用这类定语从句的关系词的能力，有时也测试考生对整个定语从句结构的认识或运用能力。例如：
1）All _____is a continuous supply of the basic necessities of life．（CET-4，90．1）
A）what is needed
B）for our needs
C）the thing needed
D）that is needed
【简析】修饰all或其它指物的不定代词（如：anything，something，nothing等）的定语从句宜用that引导。
2）Jack is the most intelligent man _____ I've ever met．
A）that B）what C）whom D）who
【简析】当先行词被形容词最高级或序数词所修饰时，定语从句用that引导。
3）Alva found a place in the cellar _____ he usedas his first laboratory．
A）which B）where C）such D）the same
【简析】which引导定语从句，修饰place，为从句的宾语，故不选用where。
4）Edward is the boy_____I think scored the winning points for the basketball team．
A）whom B）which C）that D）who
【简析】who引导一个嵌入式定语从句： who scored ．．．for the basketball team．该从句既修饰先行词（the boy），同时又嵌入在另一主谓结构（I think）之中作宾语。由于关系词指人，又在从句中起主语作用，故应选用who。
5）There will come a day_____all the people in the world will live a happy life under the sun of socialism．
A）whenB）whereC）whyD）the moment
【简析】when引导定语从句，修饰时间名词。
6）Beer is the most popular drink among male drinkers， _____overall consumption is significantly higher than that of women．（CET-4，2000．6）
A）whose
B）which
C）that
D）what
【简析】whose引导非限制性定语从句，在从句中作定语修饰overall consumption。整个定语从句修饰male drinkers。
2．由"介词＋关系代词"引导的定语从句 "prep．＋which ／whom ／whose引导的定语从句是英语中的普通现象，十分常见。四级考试往往测试学生正确选用这类定语从句中与关系词搭配的介词的能力，同时也测试学生正确选用这类定语从句中关系词的能力。介词的选用与上下文有密切关系，或与其前面的名词词组的搭配有关，或与其后面的动 词或形容词的搭配有关。关系词的选用与它代表的先行词和它在从句中的语法功能有关。在解答这类选择题时，应注意到上述关系。例如：
1）There was a teapot fashioned like a China duck，out of_____open mouth the tea was supposed to come．（CET-4，Sample）
A）which B）its C）that D）whose
【简析】此题逗号后为"复杂介词out of ＋whose"引导的非限制性定语从句。之所以选用whose是由于它与形容词open一起作定语，修饰mouth。
2）The goals_____he had fought all his life no longer seemed important to him．（CET-4，90．1）
A）after which B）with which C）for which D）at which
【简析】本题要求选择"prep．＋which"引导的定语从句中与which搭配的介词。根据题意，该介词与其前面的名词有搭配关系，即for the goals。其它答案不符合习惯搭配。
3）Living in the western part of the country has its problems， _____obtaining fresh water is not the least．（CET-4，2000．1）
A）with which B）for which C）of which D）which
【简析】经分析可知，该空应填入"介词 ＋which"来引导非限制性定语从句，修饰 problems。因从句本身含形容词最高级least，该处的"介词＋which"应表示比较范围，又因 which代表复数名词，故应用of表示比较范围。
4）He came back late， _____which time all the guests had already left．（CET-4， 99．6）
A）after B）by C）at D）during
【简析】该题要求选用介词，与which time搭配引导非限制性定语从句。介词"by＋时间名词"表示"到……为止"，与完成时谓语动词连用，合题意。
5）The course normally attracts 20 students per year， _____up to half will be from overseas．（CET-4，98．6）
A）in whichB）for whomC）with whichD）of whom
【简析】此空应填"介词＋关系代词"引导非限制性定语从句，其先行词是students，故关系代词应为whom；根据句意，该"介词＋关系代词"应表示"其中"之意，故介词用of。
6）We need a chairman _____ ．（CET-4，98．6）
A）for whom everyone has confidence
B）in whom everyone has confidence
C）who everyone has confidence of
D）whom everyone has confidence on
【简析】本题选用"介词＋关系代词＋从句"结构。通过对各选项进行分析，可知问题的焦点在"介词"上，即要确定适当的介词。根据从句句型"have confidence in ．．．"可知，该介词应为与confidence搭配的"in"。
3．由"名词／代词＋介词＋关系代词"引导的定语从句 "n．／pron．＋prep．＋which／whom／ whose"引导定语从句的例子屡见不鲜。在四级试题中往往测试考生对这一结构的理解与运用能力。例如： 1）The residents， _____had been damaged by the flood，were given help by the Red Cross．（CET-4，93．6）
A）all their homes B）all of whose homes C）all whose homes D）all of their homes
【简析】"all of whose"引导定语从句，修饰residents。其它答案或无关系词，或不合表达习惯。
- 考试辅导
