where 从句不仅可修饰地点名词

有一读者问:高中英语第二册有这样一个句子:

(1)Wearing their thick space suits, they learned to deal with conditions where there is neither weight nor gravity, neither “up” nor “down”.

where 从句在这里是定语还是状语,还是别的什么成分?

where 引导的从句在此是一定语从句。 where 是关系副词,其先行词 (亦即定语从句所修饰的名词)是 conditions。 你感到困惑的可能是:名词 conditions 并非指地点,其后怎能接一 where 从句呢?其实,并非只有表地点的名词才能后接 where 从句,像 conditions 这样表示“情况”的名词之后亦可后接 where 从句( where 在此意谓 under which, 可译为“在这种情况下”)。再如:

(2)There are cases where this rule does not hold good.(there are cases where...是一常用的句型)

(3)Can you think of a situation where this word can be used?

(4)I can't think of many instances where my teacher was unfair. (此处的 where 亦可代之以 when)

上述三句中的关系副词 where 皆意谓 in which。