摘要:“It is my brother who is singing”这类句子确实存在结构歧义,这是英语语法中一个值得深入探讨的现象。
“It is my brother who is singing”这类句子确实存在结构歧义,这是英语语法中一个值得深入探讨的现象。
✅ 一、两种理论上的可能结构
📍 1. 强调句解读(更常见)
结构:It is [被强调部分] + that/who + 剩余句子
→ It is my brother + who + is singing.
功能:强调主语身份(唱歌的人是“我兄弟”,而不是别人)
验证:去掉框架 → My brother is singing(完整句子)
📍 2. 定语从句解读(理论上存在,但实际罕见)
结构:It(指代上下文明确的事物) + is + [被定语从句修饰的名词]
→ It(指代某个已知对象,如“声音来源”) + is my brother(表语) + who is singing(修饰brother的定语从句)
功能:说明“某个事物是正在唱歌的兄弟”
例句语境设想:
A: What’s that sound?(那是什么声音?)
B: It is my brother who is singing.(那是我正在唱歌的兄弟发出的声音)
验证:定语从句修饰名词 → The brother [who is singing] is making the sound.
✅ 二、为何实际使用中优先理解为强调句?
📍 语言习惯的强制倾向
“It is...”开头的结构默认表强调:
英语中"It is/was...that/who..."已成为强调句的高度固化模板(如:It was John who stole the cake)。
定语从句的指代歧义:
若按定语从句理解,“It”必须指代前文明确提及的对象(如声音、人影等)。若无上下文支撑,“It”会显得突兀。
现代英语的趋势:
母语者更倾向将"It is X who..."视为整体强调结构,而非"代词+系表+定语从句"组合。
📍 例句对比:强制消歧
句子 结构 合理性 原因
It is my brother who is singing. 强调句 ✅ 自然 无需上下文,直接突出主语
It is my brother who is singing. 定语从句 ❌ 生硬 “It”指代不明(除非前文有“What is that?”铺垫)
That sound is my brother who is singing. 定语从句 ✅ 合理 “That sound”明确指代对象
✅ 三、如何主动消除歧义?
📍 方法1:增加上下文
强调句:Look! It is my brother who is singing. (无需前指)
定语从句:A: Whose voice is that? B: It is my brother who is singing. (“It”指代voice)
📍 方法2:调整结构(书面语)
目标语义 推荐句式 避免句式
强调主语 It is my brother singing(省略who更口语化) 避免单独使用"It is..."无上下文
修饰名词 The brother who is singing is mine(主动消除歧义) 避免用"It"指代模糊事物
📍 方法3:重音位置(口语)
强调句:重读被强调部分 → “It is MY BROTHER who is singing.”(暗示“不是别人”)
定语从句:重音在名词 → “It is my BROTHER who is singing.”(暗示“不是其他亲属”)
来源:弘bai瑞教育