Q:Such experience as I have is useless in this situation. (我的這種經驗在此情況下派不上用場) 這句中的 "as" 是當什麼詞用?

A:這個 as 是當 (準) 關係代名詞用。要特別注意的是,這個 as 千萬不可用 that 來代替,否則意思就不一樣了,因為 “such + 名詞片語 + that” 是在表示「因果」(cause and effect) 的關係,而 that 所引導的是結果子句;茲舉一例來說明之:

  • This book is written in such easy English as beginners can understand. (這本書是以初學者所能理解的簡易英文寫成的 — as 為關係代名詞)
  • This book is written in such easy English that beginners can understand it. (這本書是以簡易的英文寫成,所以初學者都能瞭解 — that 為附屬連接詞)

所以,像 Such honesty that he showed is rare in a politician nowadays. (他所展現的這種誠實作風在現今的政治人物中純屬希罕) 這樣的句子是錯誤的,其中 that 應改為 as。

另外,”the same… as” 若其後接子句,這個 as 也是當關係代名詞用,不過我們可以用 that 來代替它。例如 (下面兩句的結構和意思完全相同,亦即 that 也是關係代名詞):

  • Could I have the same room as I had last time? (我可以住我上次住過的那個房間?)
  • Could I have the same room that I had last time?

Such…as 和 such…that 的意義有何不同

有位網友寫 e-mail 問筆者 as (準關係代名詞) 和 that (關係代名詞) 在 such 之後的意義有何不同。筆者就以下面兩個例句來做說明:

  1. This is the same pen as I lost.
  2. This is the same pen that I lost.

第 1 句意為「這支筆跟我所遺失的筆是同一類型」。句中 as 為準關代,代替前面的名詞(先行詞) pen,且是形容詞子句 as I lost 中動詞 lost 的受詞。

第 2 句意為「這支筆跟我所遺失的筆是同一支筆」。句中 that 為一般關代,代替前面的名詞 pen,而且也是形容詞子句 that I lost中動詞 lost 的受詞。

總而言之,as 是表示同一類型的筆,而 that 是表示同一支筆。再舉一例:

John was not such a student as would bully his classmates.

這句意為「約翰不是那種會欺負同學的學生」。句中 as 代替前面的名詞 student,且是形容詞子句 as would bully his classmates 的主詞。