1) 单词定语一般放在所修饰的词前面(这和汉语一样):
financial problems 财政问题 peaceful construction 和平建设
life insurance 人寿保险 trade deficit 贸易逆差
developing countries 发展中国家 living conditions 生活条件
由副词表示的定语通常放在所修饰词后面:
The situation here is highly explosive. 这里的局势具有高度的爆发性。
The people there are very friendly. 那里的人很友好。
I met your sister on my way home. 我在回家路上遇见了你妹妹。
Is there anything on tomorrow? 明天有什么活动吗?
This was her first day up. 这是她起床的第一天。
还有一些单词定语在后面的情况可参阅第14.3.1节。
2) 下面各类定语都放在所修饰词的后面:
a. 定语从句:
The noise he made woke everybody up. 他弄出的响声把大家都吵醒了。
Everyone who (that) knew him liked him. 认识他的人都喜欢他。
She gave me this jumper, which she had knitted herself. 她给了我这件毛衣,这是她亲手织的。
b. 介词短语:
He was a Doctor of Philosophy in economics of Yale. 他是耶鲁大学的经济学博士。
She looked to be a young woman of twenty. 她看起来像一个二十岁的青年女子。
He was hired to illustrate a book on the birds of the world. 他受雇为一本描写世界鸟类的书画插图。
c. 分词短语和不定式短语:
People waiting for the bus often shelter in my doorway. 等公共汽车的人常常在我家门道里躲雨。
Is this the table reserved for us? 这是给我们留的桌子吗?
They need a garden to play in. 他们需要一座花园好在里面玩耍。
d. 其他作定语的短语:
They saw a building about sixty stories high. 他们看见一座六十层左右的高楼。
Soldiers normally timid don't fight well. 平时就胆小的士兵打起仗来也不行。
She has done a play, at once educational and witty. 她写了一个剧本,既有教育意义,又诙谐幽默。
1) 定语有时和它修饰的词分开:
What do you have to say in this regard? 关于这一点你有什么要说? (to say修饰what)
All we have left is some cold meat. 我们只剩了一些冷肉。
I saw something in the paper which might interest you. 我在报上看到一些东西,你可能会感兴趣。
Can you see who those people are standing at the gate? 你能看清楚站在大门口的那些人都是谁吗?
2) 一个名词有时有两个定语,其中一个就不得不和它修饰的词分开:
This is the book I bought about space flight. 这是我买的一本关于太空飞行的书。
Is there anyone among you interested in going to the caves? 你们中谁有兴趣去参观那些洞穴?
Have you got any novels by Tolstoy in English translation? 你有没有托尔斯泰小说的英译本?
1) 一个名词有几个定语时,大体上按下面顺序排列:
2) 有个别定语可放在冠词a(n)或the前面:
such a nice person so short a time
rather a hard time too small an income
many a student quite a lot (number)
half an hour quite a gentleman
half the distance twice the amount
double the amount quite the fashion
3) 一个名词有几个形容词修饰时,表示基本品质的词,离所修饰的词最近,其他可大致按品质、大小、形状等特点安排:
语言是灵活的,这样的归纳只能作参考,实际情况需要自己观察,关于形容词位置可参阅第14.3.1节。