我们说,对于英语语法来说,不可能一成不变,而是随着时代发展不断发展变化。现代英语的特色之一,是力求以简单的结构,表达复杂的思维。以名词作修饰语,简称“名词定语”,便是朝向这目标的手段之一。为此,北外网课(北京外国语大学网络课堂)老师就整理了名词修饰名词的四种常见情形,供英语学习者参考。
所谓名词修饰名词,就是以名词直接修饰另一名词,其作用和形容词相似。例如:Science students; the Clinton Administration; dinner-time; oilindustry; Christmas party 等。
代替形容词(或形容词短语)或分词(或分词短语)
country life
→
rural life
China-U.S. relations
→
Sino-Americanrelations
a launch pad
→
a launching pad
cube sugar
→
sugar formed in theshape of a cube.
代替名词所有格
good rapport between consumerand producer countries
→
good rapport between consumers'and producers' countries.
a proposal for a ceilingon ASEAN commodity imports
→
a proposal for a ceiling on ASEAN's commodityimports.
代替介词短语
a tool box
→
a box for tools.
a televisionprogramme
→
a programme on television.
apple seeds
→
the seeds of anapple.
代替同位语、形容词分句或不定式动词短语,如:
his bank manager son
→
his son,(who is a bankmanagers)
an ASEAN jointconference report
→
a report to bejointly made by ASEAN(members)