研究论文中的子句
在校对研究论文时，华乐丝的编修师最常遇到子句相关的错误。因此，在这期的文章中，我来举例谈谈常见的子句错误。
研究论文中减少关系子句
可使用动词的过去式或现在分词形式取代关系子句，如果主要动词是“to be”的话，甚至可以删掉。
范例：
完整的关系子句（被动语态）
Netscape allows administrators to implement programs WHICH ARE BASED on Java.
缩减的关系子句（较佳）
Netscape allows administrators to implement programs BASED on Java.
范例:
完整的关系子句（主动语态）
This study investigates the factors WHICH INFLUENCE the lifetime of telecommunication technology standards.
缩减的关系子句（较佳）
This study investigates the factors INFLUENCING the lifetime of telecommunication technology standards.
范例:
完整的关系子句（动词为“to be”）
The atmospheric aerosols THAT ARE IN heavily polluted areas have the potential to accelerate global warming.
缩减的关系子句（较佳）
The atmospheric aerosols IN heavily polluted areas have the potential to accelerate global warming.
介词引导的关系子句
在关系代名词（who, which, that）引导的子句中，只有which和whom可以后置于介词后使用，而that却不能：
介词 + which
介词加which子句，若介词前无逗号，则意味着which子句的信息有修饰限制的作用；若介词前无逗号，则表示which子句提供非必要的补充信息。
范例:
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.
Of + which
用of + which来表达部分群体的概念。此种表达方式中，且子句前后需加逗号与主句隔开。
范例:
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 whichis included within the residence fee.
Of + Whom
关系代名词whom引导的子句，用法上同which相同。
范例:
ACME Corporation has 15 shareholders, none of whom have a clear majority or a leading role in the company.
逗号
用逗号把非定义性关系子句跟定义性关系子句分隔开来。英语中有两种关系子句：非定义性（又称评论性、非必要）关系子句与定义性关系子句（又称必要、限定）。正确了解这两种子句的区别，在英语学习中非常重要。
定义性信息
定义性关系子句提供修饰限定子句前出现的概念的功用，因此，错误使用会导致句意混肴。
范例：
Students who have completed the course will be awarded a certificate.
在正式定义里，关系代名词which, that与who前面从来不加逗号，因为他们总是用来定义意思跟类别。
范例：
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.
非定义型信息
非定义型关系子句对于主题加以评价或提供额外信息，因此直接删除，也不会造成句子主要意思的遗失，这也是辨别子句为定义型还是非定义型的最直接方法。非定义型子句前后一般用逗号与主句分隔。
范例（定义型关系子句）
My brother who lives in Germany is an engineer.
（我另外有两个兄弟，他们住在美国。）Mexican food that/which is heavily spiced with chili gives me indigestion.
（不是所有墨西哥菜都添加很多辣椒。只有加了辣椒的墨西哥菜让我胃部不适。）范例（非定义型关系子句）：
My brother, who lives in Germany, is an engineer.
（我只有一个兄弟，他刚好住在德国。）Mexican food, which is heavily spiced with chili, gives me indigestion.
（所有墨西哥菜都添加很多辣椒。）
值得注意的是，在that引导的子句前，通常都不放逗号，除非有关系副词出现，如下例：
范例：
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还是that？
That只能被用来引入限定性的信息，而which则可引入定义型和非定义型信息。当然，也有一派语言学家坚持，只在非定义型关系子句里使用which。
