如何在研究英文論文中減少關係子句的使用頻率？

研究論文中的子句

在校對研究論文時，我們常常做的修改是處理子句這類型的錯誤。因此，我想來談談研究者常犯的子句錯誤。在學術英文中，我們傾向減少關係子句的出現。

在研究論文中減少關係子句

關係子句應該被縮減成它的過去或現在分詞，如果主要動詞是「be + 介係詞／形容詞／現在（過去）分詞」等等的話，最好刪掉。

• 看起來雖然是完整的關係子句，其實可以直接以現在／過去分詞或介係詞引導即可
• 過去分詞（-ed）、被動語態

例句：

Netscape allows administrators to implement programs that are based on Java.

編修後的關係子句：

Netscape allows administrators to implement programs based on Java.

• 現在分詞（-ing）、主動語態

例子：

This study investigates the factors that influence the lifetime of electric vehicle batteries.

編修後的關係子句:

This study investigates the factors influencing the lifetime of electric vehicle batteries.

• 含有介係詞的子句：

例子：

After the network performed classification and the program color-coded the map, the researchers counted the buildings that were red.

編修後的關係子句：

After the network performed classification and the program color-coded the map, the researchers counted the red buildings.

介係詞關係子句

在三種主要的關係代名詞who、which、that中，只有which和whom（who的受格）可以和介係詞連用。知道如何正確使用介係詞很重要，特別是要如何避免在句尾使用介係詞。在一些特殊情況下，which跟whom要跟介係詞連用，但that絕對不宜與介係詞連用。

• 介係詞 + which

介係詞後面只能接which，不接that。在介係詞後，前方沒有逗號的which接必要的訊息，用來定義或限制which前面的那個字。

以下是幾個正確在介係詞後面使用which的例子：

Each species and genus of plants produces pollen grains that have a distinct shape. These shapes can be used to identify the type of plant from which they came.

A non-falsifiable theory is a hypothesis for which no test can be devised.

Global warming theories attempt to account for the documented rise in average global temperatures since the late 19th century and assess the extent to which the effects are due to human causes.

Even without a detectable increase in global temperatures, greenhouse gases could change circulation and weather patterns on which most of the world’s population depend for their day to day survival. One potential change is the drying out of the Amazon Basin.

Recently, scientists have documented trends in which the natural timing of animal or insect life cycles changed and the plants on which they depended did not.

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• 數量不定代名詞 + of + which

總是用of + which來做數量表達。這些表達方法需要數量不定代名詞，且這樣的關係子句前後有逗號，用來和其他的子句隔開。

例子：

Taiwan has a diversity of ecosystem types, each of which can be broken down into many finer categories.

The report details projected changes affecting everything from agriculture to breeding grounds for migratory birds, many of which are considered endangered.

In 2018, the global temperature record was broken by a half degree Fahrenheit, which in climatic terms is a huge leap. Previous hot years, the last two of which were 1996 and 1998, broke the record by small fractions of a degree.

Each student room is equipped with broadband Internet access available, the cost of which is included within the residence fee.

• Whom

和which相似，關係代名詞whom用來指人，而它與介係詞的用法和which相同；whom前面通常有介係詞。

例子：

ACME Corporation has 15 shareholders, none of whom have a clear majority or a leading role in the company.

逗號

用逗號把非定義性關係子句跟主要子句分隔開來。英文有兩種關係子句：非定義性（non-defining）關係子句，又稱非限定關係子句，多半用來補充說明；與定義性（defining）關係子句，又稱限定關係子句。如果您要正確在關係子句中使用標點符號，必須了解它們如何正確使用。

定義性資訊

• 定義性關係子句，又稱限定關係子句，提供定義或限制子句前方字的訊息，因此是有明確指涉性的。

Students who have completed the course will be awarded a certificate.

在正式定義裡，關係代名詞which、that與who前面從來不加逗號，因為他們總是用來定義意思跟類別。

例子：

A catalytic converter is a device in the vehicle exhaust system which/that chemically changes pollutants, such as carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbons (HC), and nitrogen oxides (NOx) into harmless substances.

A scientist is a person who is expert in an area of science and uses scientific methods in research.

A limited partnership is a business structure in which the liability of one or more of the partners is limited to the amount invested by him.

用一個較生活化的例句說明此文法：「Dogs that like cats are very unusual.」，這世上有很多狗，但這句話指的只有「喜歡貓的狗」，這個句子就是標準的限定關係子句。

• 非定義型資訊

非定義型關係子句，又稱非限定關係子句。對於主題加以評價或提供額外訊息，因此可以從句子裡省略，不會造成句子主要意思的遺失。

事實上，這通常是最好用來判斷您面對的是定義型還是非定義型子句的方法。非定義型子句一定也是從剩下的句子中被分隔出來，最常見是被逗號分隔。在下面的例子中，留意他們的意思與上方定義型例子有何差別。

• 定義型的意思：

My brother who lives in Germany is an Engineer.（我有個住在德國的兄弟是個工程師。）

• 不只一位兄弟，且可能不一定都是同職業、同居住地。

Mexican food that/which is heavily spiced with chili gives me indigestion.（（有些）很辣的墨西哥菜，會讓我消化不良。）

• 不是所有墨西哥菜都添加很多辣椒，是只有加了辣椒的墨西哥菜讓我胃部不適。
• 非定義型的意思：

My brother, who lives in Germany, is an Engineer.（我有個兄弟，他是個工程師，住在德國。）

• 僅有一位兄弟的意思。

Mexican food, which is heavily spiced with chili, gives me indigestion.（墨西哥菜都很辣，讓我消化不良。）

• 泛指所有墨西哥菜都很辣。

要清楚顯示一則訊息對描述一個名詞是必要的，則用定義型子句，用that或which不加逗號。若要在非定義型子句添加額外的訊息，用which且小心的加逗號。

提醒：不要在that前面放逗號，除非that前面的字詞需要被用逗號分隔（例如however）。比較下方兩個例子：

例子：

The evidence shows, however, that this variable does have a significant influence.

The evidence shows that this variable does have a significant influence.

要用which還是that?

That只能被用來引入定義型訊息，而which可以引入定義型和非定義型訊息；但也有些文法學者堅持只在非定義型關係子句裡使用which，廣義和狹義的說法皆提供給您參考。

額外相關閱讀推薦：

1. 學術寫作可以使用那些連接詞或片語？
2. 如何正確使用形容詞和名詞
3. 學術寫作上三種中斷句子的方式
4. 如何透過對句法，讓句子的表達強而有力？

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