由一個(gè)從句在句子中作賓語,這個(gè)句子就叫賓語從句。它是名詞性從句的一種,在句中可以充當(dāng)及物動(dòng)詞的賓語、介詞的賓語和形容詞的賓語。
一、賓語從句的連接詞
其連接詞有三種形式:由that引導(dǎo);由連接代詞who, which, whose和連接副詞when, where, why, how等引導(dǎo);由if或whether引導(dǎo)。賓語從句的連接詞如何使用完全取決于從句的類型。
1. that引導(dǎo)的賓語從句由陳述句轉(zhuǎn)化而來,表示陳述一件事,that無意義,在口語或非正式文體中常被省略。例如:
He knew (that) he should study hard.
他知道他應(yīng)當(dāng)努力學(xué)習(xí)。
I believe (that) some people forgot to sweep the floor. 我認(rèn)為有些人忘了掃地。
I’m sure(that) he can reach the apples on the tree. 我肯定他能夠得著樹上的蘋果。
He didn’t know(that) he had been to Shanghai. 他不知道他去過上海。
[注意]下列情況that不宜省略:
(1) 主從句間有插入語時(shí),that不宜省略。例如:
It says here, on this card, that men used it in plays. 卡片上寫著,它是古代演戲用的。
(2) 若出現(xiàn)兩個(gè)或兩個(gè)以上的that賓語從句,且有并列連詞連接時(shí),第一個(gè)that可省略,其余的須保留。例如:
My aunt said(that) she would come and that she would also bring her daughter.
我姑姑說她要來,還要帶她女兒一起來。
2.由連接代詞who, whom, what, which, whose和連接副詞when, where, why, how等引導(dǎo)的賓語從句,說明該從句是一個(gè)特殊疑問句,并且這些連接代詞和連接副詞還要在句中充當(dāng)某種成分。例如:
Can you tell me how I can get to the nearest post office?
你能告訴我去最近的郵局怎么走嗎?
I wondered which class she was in.
我想知道她在哪個(gè)班。
He asked who the girl was looking for.
他問這個(gè)女孩正在找誰。
Do you know what time the ship leaves?
你知道輪船什么時(shí)候開嗎?
Father is thinking of how we can get to the station. 爸爸正在考慮我們?cè)趺礃硬拍艿竭_(dá)車站。
3.當(dāng)從句由一般疑問句變化而來時(shí),這時(shí)要用連詞if或whether引導(dǎo),表示選擇,意為“是否”,一般情況下可以互換使用。例如:
Please tell me if/whether you have been to Australia. 請(qǐng)告訴我你是否去過澳大利亞。
I asked if/whether he was a teacher.
我問他是否是名老師。
Tom wanted to know if/whether you would go. 湯姆想知道你是否會(huì)去。
[注意]下列情況下只能用whether:
(1)從句在介詞后作賓語時(shí)。例如:
I am thinking about whether we should go fishing. 我正在考慮我們是否該去釣魚。
(2)與or not連用時(shí)。例如:
I wonder whether I’ll catch the last bus or not. 我想知道我能否趕上末班車。
(3)賓語從句位于句首時(shí)。例如:
Whether he will come, we all don’t know.
他是否會(huì)來,我們都不知道。
二、賓語從句的語序
1.賓語從句應(yīng)該用陳述句語序,即按“主語+謂語+賓語”的順序排列。將疑問句轉(zhuǎn)化成賓語從句時(shí),一定要將疑問語序轉(zhuǎn)變成陳述語序。例如:
Can you tell me what he wants?
你能告訴我他想要什么嗎?
2.當(dāng)who, whose或which對(duì)主語提問時(shí),語序不變;變?yōu)橘e語從句時(shí),語序依然不變。例如:
She asked who would answer those questions. 她問誰準(zhǔn)備回答那些問題。
[注意]賓語從句的標(biāo)點(diǎn)符號(hào)均由主句決定。例如:
He knew who lived with her.
他知道誰和她生活在一起。
Do you know what he has done?
你知道他都干了些什么嗎?
三、賓語從句的時(shí)態(tài)
從句的時(shí)態(tài)與主句的時(shí)態(tài)要保持一致,主要體現(xiàn)在以下幾個(gè)方面:
1.若主句為現(xiàn)在時(shí)態(tài),從句的謂語動(dòng)詞可根據(jù)具體情況選用所需要的時(shí)態(tài)。例如:
We hope you’ll have a very happy year in our class. 我們希望你在我們班能度過快樂、幸福的一年。
2.若主句為過去時(shí)態(tài),則賓語從句通常選用過去時(shí)態(tài)。例如:
He said he was doing his homework then.
他說他那時(shí)在做作業(yè)。
[注意]兩個(gè)特殊詞——could與would
could與would經(jīng)常用于句中表示委婉、客氣語氣,此時(shí)不表示過去時(shí),其后賓語從句時(shí)態(tài)仍由句意確定。例如:
Could you tell me where the school is?
你能告訴我學(xué)校在哪嗎?
Would you please ask him if he will go with us?
你能問問他他是否要和我們一起去嗎?
3.若從句是客觀真理,或是一種現(xiàn)象,或是科學(xué)原理,或是現(xiàn)階段存在的客觀事實(shí),或是經(jīng)常性、習(xí)慣性動(dòng)作,或是諺語、格言等,其時(shí)態(tài)常用一般現(xiàn)在時(shí)。例如:
My teacher told me Sunday is the first day of a week. 老師告訴我星期日是一周的第一天。
Our teacher said that the earth is almost round. 我們老師說地球幾乎是圓的。
The scientists said the sun rises in the east and goes down in the west.
科學(xué)家們說太陽從東方升起,西方落下。
Our teacher told us that where there is a will, there is a way.
我們老師告訴我們有志者事竟成。
四、否定轉(zhuǎn)移
主句為I/We think(believe, guess, suppose…)時(shí),從句若表示否定,一般將否定詞not轉(zhuǎn)移到主句的謂語中,這種現(xiàn)象叫作“否定轉(zhuǎn)移”。例如:
I don’t think chickens can swim.
我認(rèn)為雞不會(huì)游泳。
I don’t believe he will come.
我認(rèn)為他不會(huì)來了。
[注意]賓語從句的疑問句、否定句均在主句上發(fā)生變化。例如:
I know when the meeting will begin.
我知道會(huì)議什么時(shí)候開始。
Do you know when the meeting will begin?
你知道會(huì)議什么時(shí)候開始嗎?
I don’t know when the meeting will begin.
我不知道會(huì)議什么時(shí)候開始。
五、賓語從句與簡(jiǎn)單句的互相轉(zhuǎn)換
當(dāng)賓語從句是以連接代詞或連接副詞如when, where, who, why, which, what, whose等引導(dǎo)時(shí),有時(shí)可以轉(zhuǎn)換成由連接代詞或連接副詞加動(dòng)詞不定式,構(gòu)成不定式的疑問形式作賓語,從而由一個(gè)主從復(fù)合句變?yōu)楹?jiǎn)單句。
1.當(dāng)主句中的主語與賓語從句中的主語一致時(shí),可以將其改為簡(jiǎn)單句。例如:
I don’t know what I shall do next.
→I don’t know what to do next.
我不知道下一步該做什么。
John didn’t decide which shirt he would buy.
→John didn’t decide which shirt to buy.
約翰不知道買哪件襯衫。
We found that we could easily work out the math problem.
→We found it easy for us to work out the math problem.我們發(fā)現(xiàn)我們能很容易算出這道數(shù)學(xué)題。
2.當(dāng)主句中含有雙賓語時(shí),如果間接賓語與賓語從句(直接賓語)中的主語一致時(shí),也可以將這個(gè)主從復(fù)合句變?yōu)楹?jiǎn)單句。例如:
Can you tell me how I can get to the police station?
→Can you tell me how to get to the police station? 你能告訴我怎么才能到警察局嗎?
Please show me how I should start the recorder.
→Please show me how to start the recorder. 請(qǐng)給我演示一下怎樣使用錄音機(jī)。
Please tell him which book he would read first.
→Please tell him which book to read first.
請(qǐng)告訴他應(yīng)該先讀哪本書。
六、賓語從句轉(zhuǎn)化成反意疑問句
含有賓語從句的復(fù)合句在構(gòu)成反意疑問句時(shí),應(yīng)根據(jù)主句的主語和謂語來確定,但對(duì)于含有否定轉(zhuǎn)移的賓語從句,必須根據(jù)從句來確定。例如:
Jim told us(that) they would leave this school, didn’t he? 吉姆告訴我們他們將離開這個(gè)學(xué)校,不是嗎?
I don’t think (that) he is right, is he?
我認(rèn)為他不正確,是嗎?