關係詞包含關係代名詞、關係代名詞所有格、關係副詞、複合關係代名詞及準關係代名詞。任何關係詞均有連接詞的功能,引導形容詞子句,與主要子句連接,並修飾主要子句中的名詞、片語或整個主要子句,茲一一敘述如下。
1. 關係代名詞的檢查法:
a. 關係代名詞之前應有先行詞(即被該關係代名詞代替的名詞、片語或子句)
b. 關係代名詞本身在所引導的形容詞子句中應做主詞或受詞
c. 否則關係代名詞之前應置介詞,該介詞亦可置該子句句尾1) 代替事物、片語或子句應使用 which。
例: This is a book which is sure to interest you a lot.
(這是一本一定會引起你很大興趣的書。)
*which 做主詞。
This is a book which I like to read.
(這是我很喜歡看的書。)
*which 做 read 的受詞。
This is a book in which I've found many errors.
= This is a book which I've found many errors in.
(這是一本我發現有很多錯誤的書。)
*which 做介詞 in 的受詞。
There is hardly anything David doesn't know, which I really envy.
(大衛幾乎無所不知,這真的令我羨慕。)
*which 代替之前的整個主要子句,做 envy 的受詞。2) 代替人則使用 who 或 whom。
例: David is a man who never lies.
(大衛是個從不說謊的人。)
*who 做主詞。
Paul is a man whom we all respect.
(阿寶是個我們都很尊敬的人。)
*whom 做 respect 的受詞。Peter is a man with whom I enjoy working.
= Peter is a man whom I enjoy working with.
(彼得是個我喜歡共事的人。)
*whom 做介詞 with 的受詞。