先看经典例句：
We have nothing but praise for the way they handled the investigation.
对于他们处理调查的方式我们唯有赞赏。
You have to admire the way he handled the situation.
你不得不佩服他处理这个局面的手段。
I felt wretched about the way things had turned out.
事情落了这么个结局，我感到很难受。
It doesn't alter the way I feel.
这并没有改变我的感受。
I like the way you've done your hair.
我喜欢你梳的发式。
It's not what you say, it's the way that you say it.
问题不在于你说什么，而在于你怎么说。
It's quite easy to make quite small changes to the way that you work.
对工作方式作一些小的改变会比较容易。
Her hands were tied by the way that the US constitution is structured.
她为美国宪法的表述缚住了手脚。
I'm disgusted with the way that he was treated.
他受到如此对待让我气愤。
Work is the way that people seek to redeem their lives from futility.
工作可以避免人们虚度生命。
One major difference between these computers concerns the way in which they store information.
这些计算机之间的一个主要差异涉及其储存信息的方式。
The way in which we work has undergone a complete transformation in the past decade.
在过去的十年里，我们的工作方式经历了彻底的变革。
The way in which they dress is dictated by very rigid fashion rules.
他们的着装受到时尚规则的严格限制。
That is a fair approximation of the way in which the next boss is being chosen.
那和下一任老板的选任方式相当类似。
解析：
"the way" 作先行词的用法是指在英语中，当句子中出现 "the way" 时，其后的定语从句通常使用关系词 "that" 或 "in which" 来引导。这种用法的特点是，"the way" 在定语从句中作方式状语，表示 "以某种方式或办法"。例如：
1. I like the way that you smile. （我喜欢你微笑的方式。）
2. I don't like the way in which he talks to me. （我不喜欢他和我说话的方式。）
在以上两个例句中，"the way" 作先行词，其后的定语从句分别使用了关系词 "that" 和 "in which" 来引导。这种用法在写作和口语中都比较常见，可以使句子更加丰富和生动。需要注意的是，当 "the way" 作先行词时，其后的定语从句也可以省略关系词，例如：
3. I like the way you smile. （我喜欢你微笑的方式。）
总之，"the way" 作先行词的用法是英语中比较常见的一种语法现象，需要考生在平时的学习中多加练习和掌握。
看例句：
I don't like the way he jokes me.我不喜欢他取笑我的样子。
I like the way in which she smiles.我喜欢她笑的样子。
I like the way that he talks.我喜欢他讲话的样子。
当表示“以某种方式或办法”的意思时，the way作为先行词时，后面的定语从句可以有三种引导词形式：①不用引导词； ②用that引导； ③用in which引导。
(一)the way作先行词，后接定语从句
以下3种表达都是正确的。例如：“我喜欢她笑的样子。”
1. the way+ in which +从句：I like the way in which she smiles.
2. the way+ that +从句：I like the way that she smiles.
3. the way + 从句(省略了in which或that)：I like the way she smiles.
上述句子都正确，意思也完全相同。但是，the way之后用in which引导的定语从句最为正式;省略了that是最自然最常用的表达; the way之后用that引导定语从句，比较偶尔或不常见。
【核心提示】
way后面的定语从句也并不总是用in which，要根据上下文而定，规则就是the way在从句中作方式状语时，引导词适合以上三种处理方法；如果the way在从句中充当宾语，则引导词也分三种处理方法，即可以省略，也可以用that或which。请看下面一句中，关系词代替way在从句中做动词的宾语，自然关系词是that或which，也可以省略。
Among the many ways (that/which) he used to please his wife was cooking her a good meal.
他过去常用的取悦妻子的众多方式之一就是为妻子做一顿好吃的。
the means by which + 从句
【释义】
means也表示方式，但它后面的定语从句一般是由by which引导。
【举例】
① What is the quickest means by which we can get to Beijing?
我们可以到北京的最快的方式是什么？
② This is the means by which he got all his help.
这就是他求得所有帮助的方式。
③ The means by which he got such a good mark in the exam was cheating.
他考试中得到如此高分的方式就是作弊。
【核心提示】
当然，任何时候关系词的选择都要看其在从句中的作用。the means后面的定语从句也并不总是用by which，要根据上下文而定，规则就是the means在从句中作方式状语时，引导词适合以上三种处理方法；如果the means在从句中充当宾语，则引导词也分三种处理方法，即可以省略，也可以用that或which。请看下面一句中，关系词代替the means在从句中做动词的宾语，自然关系词是that或which，也可以省略。如：
What was the means (that/which) he used to get his promotion?
他所用的向上爬的方式是什么？
关系词在从句中做used的宾语，因此可以是that, 也可以是which, 也可以省略。
(二)the way的语义
1. the way=as(像)
Please do it the way I’ve told you.请按照我告诉你的那样做。
I'm talking to you just the way I'd talk to a boy of my own.我和你说话就像和自己孩子说话一样。
Plant need water the way they need sun light.植物需要水就像它们需要阳光一样。
2. the way=how(怎样，多么)
It's not what you say, it's the way that you say it.
问题不在于你说什么，而在于你怎么说。
No one can imagine the way he misses her.没人能够想象出他是多么想念她!
I want to find out the way a volcano has formed.我想弄清楚火山是怎样形成的。
He was filled with anger at the way he had been treated.他因遭受如此待遇而怒火满腔。
This is the way we've always done it.
我们一直是这样干的。
That’s the way she speaks.她就是那样讲话的。
3. the way=according as (根据)
The way you answer the questions, you must be an excellent student.从你回答问题来看，你一定是名优秀的`学生。
The way most people look at you, you'd think a trashman was a monster.从大多数人看你的目光中,你就知道垃圾工在他们眼里是怪物。
The way I look at it, it’s not what you do that matters so much.依我看，重要的并不是你做什么。
I might have been his son the way he talked.根据他说话的样子，好像我是他的儿子一样。
One would think these men owned the earth the way they behave.他们这样行动，人家竟会以为他们是地球的主人。
The boy must be a stranger here, the way he looks into the shop windows.根据男孩向商店橱窗张望德样子，看来他一定是这里的陌生人。
4.the way=because(因为)
No wonder that girl looks down upon me, the way you encourage her.难怪那个女孩看不起我, 原来是你怂恿的。
How silly she is, the way she asks questions about this and that!她不断地问这问那，显得好不愚蠢!
5. the way=that(引导名词性从句)
It was boring the way he kept complaining to his wife.他一直向他妻子抱怨令人心烦。
It's dreadful the way they treat their staff.
他们对待雇员的方式糟糕透了。
It was shameful the way she was treated. 她竟然受到那样的对待，太不象话了。
It's a crime the way he bullies his children. 像他那样欺负自己的孩子真缺德。
It's a shame the way that the media can twist your words and misrepresent you.
媒体歪曲他人言论、曲解他人意图的做法真是可耻。