名词用作前置形容词时,通常采取单数形式。比如:
洗碗布
a cloth for dishes
→ a dish cloth [原来的 dishes 采用复数形式,用作前置形容词时则改为单数形式]
打虎
the shooting of tigers
→ tiger shooting [tigers 变成单数形式]
磨剪石
a sharpener for scissors
→ a scissor sharpener [scissors 通常以复数形式出现,但用作前置形容词时也采取单数形式]
更多例子:
a chair with arms = an arm chair 扶手椅
the legs of the trousers = the trouser legs 裤腿
a pl ant from the mountains = a mountain plant 来自山上的植物
a brush for brushing teeth = a tooth brush 牙刷
a table for playing billiards = a billiard table 桌球台
a box for holding cigars = a cigar box 雪茄烟盒子
the gap of generations = the generation gap 代沟
定语从句中的名词是中心词时,也可把该名词变为前置形容词来代替定语从句。例如:
a shop that sells shoes 可改为 a shoe shop。
a factory which produces bicycles 可改为 a bicycle factory。
在现代英语中,也出现若干复数各词用作前置形容词的现象,以下是一些较为常见的实例:
an appointments secretary 安排约会的秘书
a clothes peg 晒衣绳上夹衣服的夹子
a commodities fair 商品交易会
an honours student 优秀生
a sales manager 销售部经理
a sports meet 运动会
a savings account 储蓄存款户头
a two-thirds majority 三分之二多数
an arms depot 军火库
the civil rights campaign 民权运动
a greetings telegram/a greeting telegram 贺电
a machines hall 机器展览大厅
a savings bank 储蓄银行
a sports page 报纸的体育版
a sports car 赛车
a wages policy 工资政策
1. 故事书:a book of storys,还可以怎样表达?
A. a story book B. a story books C. a storys book
2. a factory which produces cars 可改为_____?
A. a car factory B. a cars factory C. a car's factory
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