一、誤認為關系代詞whose只用于修飾人
whose用作疑問代詞時，主要用于指人;但用作關系代詞時，它既可指人也可指物。如：
It was an island, whose name I have forgotten. 它是一座島，名字我忘了。
The factory, whose workers are all women, is closed during the holidays. 這家工廠工人都是婦女，在假期中工廠關門了。
二、混淆定語從句與并列句
請看下面兩題：
1. He has two children, and both of _________ are abroad.
A. them B. which C. whom D. who
2. He has two children, both of _________ are abroad.
A. them B. which C. whom D. who
第1題選A，第2題選C。由于第1題中用了并列連詞and，從而使整個句子為并列句，and后應是一個獨立的簡單句，所以選A不選C;第2題沒有并列連詞and，both of whom are abroad為非限制性定語從句。另外，請比較下面一題：
He has two children, both of _________ being abroad.
A. them B. which C. whom D. who
此題答案為A，其中的both of them being abroad為獨立主格結構，用作狀語。
請再看一組類似的例子：
1. He wrote a lot of novels, many of _________ translated into foreign languages.
A. it B. them C. which D. that
2. He wrote a lot of novels, many of _________ were translated into foreign languages.
A. it B. them C. which D. that
第1應選B，而不能選C，是因為句中的 translated 是過去分詞(非謂語動詞)，若選C，則該從句無謂語;第2應選C，因為句中有謂語 were translated。比較下面一例：
He wrote a lot of novels, and many of _________ were translated into foreign languages.
A. it B. them C. which D. that
此題與上面的第2題不同，兩句間多了一個并列連詞and，說明這是一個并列句，故應選B，則不能選C。
三、混淆關系代詞與關系副詞
有的同學一看到先行詞是表示時間、地點、原因的名詞，就認為一定要用關系副詞，其實也不一定。在此情況下，還要看關系詞在定語從句中是用作什么成分，若是用作狀語，則用關系副詞，若不是用作狀語(如用作主語、賓語等)則不能用關系副詞，而用關系代詞。比較：
This is the factory where I want to work. 這就是我想工作的工廠。(work為不及物動詞where在從句中用作狀語)
This is the factory that I want to visit. 這就是我想參觀的工廠。(visit為及物動詞，that用作visit的賓語)
The reason why he can’t come is that he is ill. 他沒來的是因為他病了。(come為不及物動詞，why在定語從句中用作狀語)
The reason that he put forth is very important. 他提出的理由很重要。(put forth為及物動詞，that在定語從句中用作其賓語)
