李秀萍
定語位于所修飾詞語的前面叫前置定語,放在所修飾詞語后面的定語叫后置定語。
一、介詞短語、分詞短語和定語從句作定語時,通常作后置定語。如:
介詞短語:
The pen on the desk is mine. 桌上的那支鋼筆是我的。
Three of them are from China. 他們當中有三個人是來自中國。
There are birds singing in the tree. 樹上有小鳥在歌唱。
分詞短語:
The girl wearing a pair of glasses is Susan. 戴眼鏡的女孩是蘇珊。
The house being built is Childrens House. 正在建造的房子是“兒童之家”。
The questions raised at the meeting must be paid attention to. 在會上被提出的問題必須得引起注意。
不定式短語:
Be brave! Theres nothing to fear. 勇敢點!沒有什么可恐懼的。
定語從句:
Jim began to talk to a girl who sat next to him. 吉姆開始和坐在他身旁的姑娘講話。
二、單個的單詞作定語一般位于所修飾詞語的前面,即前置定語。如:
He is a clever boy. 他是位聰明的男孩。
但是,單個的單詞作定語在下列五種情況下則要后置:
1. 以a-開頭的表語形容詞,或以-able/ible結尾,具有表語特征的形容詞。如alive, asleep, awake, reasonable, accessible, possible,以及present, ready等。
He is the greatest poet alive.他是活著的最偉大的詩人。
The person asleep is wounded badly. 睡著的這個人受傷很嚴重。
They achieved their aims in every way possible. 他們盡一切可能的辦法達到了目標。
Everybody present welcomed the decision. 出席的人都歡迎那個決議。
2. 表示地點或時間的副詞。如today, yesterday, here, there, downstairs, upstairs, abroad, above等
The temperature today is seventy degrees Fahrenheit. 今天的氣溫是華氏70度。
The sport meeting yesterday was very successful. 昨天的運動會非常成功。
The people here live a happy life. 這兒的人們過著幸福的生活。
The people there are friendly to us. 那里的人對我們很友好。
He turned the radio down so that he shouldnt disturb the old lady downstairs. 為了不打擾樓下的老太太,他把收音機音量調低了。
I had the good fortune to be chosen for a trip abroad. 我真幸運,被選中出國旅行。
Put the biscuits on the shelf above. 把餅干放到上面的架子上。
3. else修飾疑問詞或不定代詞。
What else have you seen there?你在那兒還看到別的什么?
Where else would you like to travel?你還想到別的什么地方去旅游?
I have something else to do. 我還有別的事要辦。
Do you have anything else to ask me?還有別的事要問我嗎?
4. 修飾不定代詞something, anything, nothing的形容詞。
Theres nothing difficult in the world. 世上無難事。
He told me something strange today. 他今天告訴了我件怪事。
5. 單個分詞作定語通常作前置定語,但有時也見后置的情況,相當于一個定語從句。如:
That man laughing(=who is laughing)is Li Leis father. 那個大笑的人是李雷的爸爸。
This will be the best novel of its kind ever written(=that has ever been written). 這將是這類小說中寫得最好的。
Dont worry!Theres a little time left(=that is left). 不要擔心!還剩下一點時間。
The problems concerned will be solved soon.(人們)所關心的問題將很快得到解決。endprint