有句很常用的谚语:
He who laughs last laughs best. 谁笑到最后,谁笑得最好。
书上分析说,who laughs last 是修饰人称代词 he 的。我觉得很奇怪,人称代词也可后接定语从句吗?英语可说 she who, we who, they who, you who, I who 等吗?若可以,请举例说明,非常感谢!
赵振才教授在《英语常见问题解答大词典》增订版中指出:在现代英语里,人称代词 we, he, she 通常是不受定语从句来修饰或限定的。像 we who / that , he who / that, she who / that 这样的用法只出现在古文体和非正式的语境里,带有古色古香的的味道 ...... 因此,我们在格言和谚语里会常常见到这种用法。
以下是该书中的一些例句:
He who makes no mistakes makes nothing. (Prov.) 不犯错误的人将一事无成。
He that cannot obey cannot command. (Prov.) 不会服从的人就不会指挥。
He that can discern the loveliness of things, we call him a poet. 能够觉察到事物之美的人,我们称之为诗人。
He that parts us shall bring a brand from heaven. 跟我们分开的人就必须打上天国的烙印。
He cannot speak well that cannot hold his tongue. 不懂保持沉默之人非善言者。
He that commits a fault thinks everyone speaks of it. 犯错误的人总在怀疑别人谈论他的错误。
He that touches pitch shall be defiled. 近墨者黑。
He laughs best who laughs last. 最后笑的人笑得最甜。
He who hesitates is lost. 踌躇不决者必然失败。
He who excuses himself accuses himself. 替自己申辩就等于控诉自己。