I'm not sorry that I drove the snake back into this room where it attacked its keeper.
where 引导的从句是限制性定语从句,还是非限制性定语从句? 我对学生讲这是个非限制性定语从句,学生便问我: “where 之前没有逗号与主句分隔开,能说是非限制性定语从句吗?” 我觉得很难回答。
限制性定语从句与非限制性定语从句的区别主要在于:前者对于它所修饰的先行词所表示的事物起区分、限定作用,而后者不起区分、限定作用,而只起描述、补充说明作用。上句中的 where 从句显然是非限制性定语从句。关于逗号,CGEL 的作者们只是说:“在书写时,非限制性定语从句通常用逗号分隔。”这就是说,有的作者在非限制性定语从句之前有时是不加逗号的。下面是一些实例:
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Then they beached the ship on the shore where they were able to repair the damage. 然后他们又把船拖上海滩，在那里他们把损坏处修理好了。
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Ships carry live sheep to markets in the Middle East where they are killed at festivals. 活羊用船装运到中东市场，在节日里屠宰上市。
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For several years he sailed to the east of America where he charted its coasts. 他多年来航行于美国东海岸，把那儿的海岸标示在航海图上。
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After the First World War Madame Curie travelled to the USA where she was received by the President and given a gram of radium for her future work. 第一次世界大战后，居里夫人旅行去美国，受到了总统的接见，并被赠予一克镭，以供她今后工作之用。
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Camp David was the only haven where we would have the peace and privacy we craved. (Hillary, Living History) 戴维营是惟一的避风港，在那儿我们能得到极其渴望的平静和私生活。
实际上，在 where 之前都可以加上个逗号(参见 restrictive relative clause)。
请做下面的英语试题：
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After living in Paris for fifty years he returned to the small town ____ he grew up as a child. A. which B. where C. that D. when(全国高考,96-16)
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He's got himself into a dangerous situation ____ he is likely to lose control over the plane.
A. where B. which C. while D. why(上海高考,01-37)
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We will be shown around the city: schools, museums, and some other places, ____ other visitors seldom go. A. what B. which C. where D. when(北京高考,02-22)
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Today, we'll discuss a number of cases ____ beginners of English fail to use the language properly.
A. which B. as C. why D. where(全国高考陕西卷,07-20)