过去分词是非谓语动词的一种形式,表示完成和被动的动作。它在句子中可以充当表语、定语等成份。下面仅谈其作定语和表语的用法。
一、过去分词作定语
过去分词作定语有前置和后置两种情况。
1、前置定语
单个的过去分词作定语,通常放在被修饰的名词之前,表示被动和完成意义。
A类:被动意义:
an honored guest 一位受尊敬的客人
The injured workers are now being taken good care of in the hospital.
受伤的工人现正在医院受到良好的照料。
B类:完成意义:
a retired teacher 一位退休的教师
They are cleaning the fallen leaves in the yard.
他们正在打扫院子里的落叶。
2、后置定语
过去分词短语作定语时,通常放在被修饰的名词之后,它的作用相当于一个定语从句。如:
This will be the best novel of its kind ever written (=that has ever been written).
这将是这类小说中写得最好的。
Who were the so-called guests invited (=who had been invited) to your party last night?
昨晚被邀请参加你的晚会的那些所谓的客人是谁呀?
二、过去分词作表语
作表语的过去分词主要来自及物动词,在主-系-表句型中,说明主语所处的一种状态。其中系动词有包括be在内的多种形式。如:
You seem frightened.
你看样子受了惊吓。
少数不及物动词(如go, come, set)的过去分词也能作表语,但它们不表示被动意义,只是表示动作完成。如:
They are gone for vacation.
他们度假去了。
注意:要区别“系动词+过去分词(系表结构)” 和 “系动词+过去分词(被动语态)”。如:
A. The library is now closed.
图书馆现在关门了。
B. The library is closed at six.
图书馆经常在六点钟关门。
说明:作表语用的过去分词表示主语的特点或所处的状态,强调主谓关系。这种结构中的过去分词前可加quite, very, rather等修饰词。系动词可有多种,表示不同的意义;被动语态表示动作,强调动宾关系,绝大多数被动结构中的行为执行者还可以用by短语来表示。因此,我们不难看出在上面两句中,A句是系表结构,B句是被动语态。
从A、B、C、D四个选项中,选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。
1. Most of the artists __ to the party were from South Africa. (MET 1990)
A. invited B. to invite
C. being invited D. had been invited
2. The computer center, __last year, is very popular among the students in this school. (NMET 1993)
A. open B. opening
C. having opened D. opened
3. Cleaning women in big cities usually get __ by the hour.(NMET 1998)
A. pay B. paying C. paid D. to pay
4.—How do you deal with the disagreement between the company and the customers?
—The key __ the problem is to meet the demand __ by the customers. (北京2002)
A. to solving; making
B. to solving; made
C. to solve; making
D. to solve; made
5. Don’t use words, expressions, or phrases __ only to people with specific knowledge.
(上海2002)
A. being known B. having been known
C. to be known D. known
Key: 1-5 ADCBD
