This is the house which we bought last month. 這是我們上個月買的那幢房子。(限制性)
The house, which we bought last month, is very nice.這幢房子很漂亮,是我們上個月買的。(非限制性)
當先行詞是專有名詞或物主代詞和指示代詞所修飾時,其后的定語從句通常是非限制性的。例如:
Charles Smith, who was my former teacher, retired last year. 查理。史密斯去年退休了,他曾經(jīng)是我的老師。
My house, which I bought last year, has got a lovely garden. 我去年買的的那幢房子帶著個漂亮的花園。
This novel, which I have read three times, is very touching. 這本小說很動人,我已經(jīng)讀了三遍。
非限制性定語從句還能將整個主句作為先行詞, 對其進行修飾, 這時從句謂語動詞要用第三人稱單數(shù)。例如:
He seems not to have grasped what I meant, which greatly upsets me. 他似乎沒抓住我的意思,這使我心煩。
Liquid water changes to vapor, which is called evaporation. 液態(tài)水變?yōu)檎羝?,這就叫做蒸發(fā)。
說明:關系代詞that和關系副詞why不能引導非限制性定語從句。