定语
定语是对名词或代词起修饰、限定作用的词、短语或句子,汉语中常用‘……的’表示。定语通常位于被修饰的成分前。定语分为前置定语和后置定语。前置定语在名词中心词之前,前置定语通常较短;后置定语在名词中心词之后,后置定语通常较长。单词作定语时通常放在它所修饰的词之前,作前置定语。短语和从句作定语时则放在所修饰的词之后,作后置定语。
定语前置
在英语里,一般定语前置时的次序为:限定词,形容词、分词、动名词和名词性定语。但当几个形容词同时出现在名词短语之前,我们要注意其次序。其形容词遵循的词序为:限观形龄色国材,指:限定词(一般指数量);外观(美丽等);形状(大小,高矮,肥瘦);年龄;颜色;国籍;材料;用途。如:
A new plastic bucket.
A purple velvet curtains.
An elegant German clock.
另外,有些形容词也有特殊的次序:
1. 描述身体特征的形容词先于表示情感和性格特征的形容词 a small lovely girl,a long patient queue,a pale anxious patient ;
2. 表示颜色的形容词放在表示情感和性格特征的形容词之后 a kindly black teacher,an inquisitive brown dog
3.little,old 和young 有时可以作为名词短语不可分割的一部分,所以可以直接放在名词之前,a lovely little girl
4.表示性格特征的形容词可以放在old young 之前,也可放在old young 之后,a young ambitious man (强调年龄),an ambitious young man(强调雄心勃勃)
当然,三个以上形容词连用作定语,就显得累赘,因此上面所说的情况一般较少出现.
定语后置
1.短语作定语一般后置
It was a conference fruitful of results. 那是一个硕果累累的会议。
He gave me a basket full of eggs. 他给我一个装满鸡蛋的篮子。
English is a language easy to learn but difficult to master. 英语是一门容易学但是难精通的语言。
The boys hardest to teach are all in his class.最难教的男生都在他的班里了。
2.修饰some,any,no,every等词构成的不定代词的定语都后置
Let’s go somewhere quiet. 咱们去找个安静一点的地方吧。
There is nothing important in today’s newspaper. 今天报纸上没有什么重要的东西。
Do you have anything more to say? 你还有什么话要说吗
3.副词作定语
The people here are very friendly. 这里的人很友好。
They lived in the room above.他们住在楼上的房间。
4.动词、名词转化而来的以-able,-ible 结尾的形容词作定语
He is a person dependable. 他是一个可以依靠的人
This is the only transportation means available. 这是唯一可行的交通工具。
5.起强调用的单个分词
Everybody involved should stay here.
The college mentioned.
6.特殊词
Could you tell me something important.
注意:
注意1. 若修饰some, any, every, no构成的复合不定代词时,(如:something、nothing),定语通常置后。
I have something important to tell you.(important修饰something,却放在后面)
There is nothing interesting in the book.( interesting 修饰 nothing)
注意2. 副词用作定语时须放在名词之后。
People there are very friendly. (那儿的人们)
He went up to a policeman downstairs. (楼下的警察)
注意3. 单个形容词作定语一般放在所修饰词之前,形容词短语作定语一般放在所修饰词之后
The man next to me is a scientist.(我旁边的那个人)
The shop closest to my house is about one kilometer away.(距我家最近的那个商店)
注意4. 介词短语作定语时要后置
The boy under the tree is Tom.(树下的那个男孩)
The tallest boy in our class is John.(我们班最高的那个男孩)
注意5. 名词作定语一般用单数,但当woman, man作定语且后面名词为复数时,woman man 也要用复数.
boy students, apple trees, men doctors, women nurses
注意6. 动词不定式、现在分词短语、过去分词短语作定语要后置
I have something to say. (直译:我有要说的话)
The boy crying over there is my classmate.(在那边哭的那个男孩)
The house built last year is impressive.(去年建的那座房子)
注意7. 动名词、现在分词作定语时的区别
This is a swimming pool.(动名词作定语,表功能)
The sleeping boy is only five.(现在分词作定语, 表正在进行)
注意8. Else, 别的,其它的,通常放在不定代词和疑问词后作后置定语
Who else do you know?
Somebody else might have taken it away.
注意9. enough修饰名词可前置或后置, enough修饰形容词、副词时,必须后置。Nearby可作形容词、副词,因此修饰名词时也可前置或后置
1) I haven’t got enough money. I can’t afford it.(形容词作定语)
2) We have time enough to do the work. (形容词短语作定语)
3) You can’t be careful enough. (副词作状语)
3) If you are in trouble, ask a policeman nearby for help. (副词作定语)= If you are in trouble, ask a nearby policeman for help. (形容词作定语)