He was Alexander the Great（or Richard the Lion-Hearted）．（专有名词＋the＋形容词）
Marriage is a matter hard to handle．I know of a man ready to help us．Is this the time suitable to say anything?（名词＋形容词＋不定式）
He drove along a path two meters wide．He lives in a house eight stories high．A boy about five years old is playing in the garden．（名词＋数词＋名词＋形容词）
He is a boy taller than you（or as tall as you）．（“名词＋形容词比较级＋than＋名词” 或“名词＋as＋形容词＋as＋名词”）
There slept a man with his eyes open．Look at the dog with its ears erect．（名词＋with＋名词＋形容词）
B．作补语（表语）的用法
63 3．和名词一样，形容词也可用在系动词后作补语（表语），修饰主语或说明主语的情况。
You are hungry．John is honest．Father seems sad．Mary looks old．I feel tired．Lee remains ill．She is growing fat.
如果需要强调形容词而主语又有较长的修饰语，形容词可放在系动词及主语的前面。
Gone are the days when my heart was young and gay．
Happy is he who is satisfied with what he has．
如形容词前还有how修饰，也可一起放在前面。
How old is he?（疑问句）
How strong is his country?
How funny he is!（而不是is he?）（感叹句）
How rich this country is!
64 4．和名词一样，形容词也可用在宾补动词后作宾语的补语，对宾语加以修饰或说明。
They make me angry．I thought it easy．He likes his coffee hot．They left their son ignorant．They called his works great．Mother keeps the floor clean．They find John honest．
如果宾语很长，形容词也可放在动词后面（紧跟动词）。
Mother keeps clean the floor，the furniture and everything．
He set free all the prisoners in the village．
He left vacant all the rooms of his hotel．
C．解释性用法
65 5．有些形容词常和别的词结合，对主语进行解释，它和主语之间常用逗号隔开（这时它带有状语的作用，用来说明为什么有这种情况）。
Sad and tired，John wandered about．（=John was sad and tired，and thus he wandered about．）
Young，rich and pretty，Mary has many boy friends．（=Mary is young，rich and pretty，and so she has many boy friends．）
Angry with me，he complained all day．
Ashamed of his uncle，John refused to mention him．
Unable to reply，she pretended not to hear me．
Ready to fight them，he stood unmoved．
Three hundred miles long，the road is the longest one in this country．（=The road is three hundred miles long，and it is the longest one in this country．）
Ninety years old，grandma is still healthy．（=Grandma is ninety years old，yet she is still healthy．）
Penniless（used singly），he sold his watch.
66 6．解释性的形容词也可放在主语后面，这时强调性较弱，它前后都有逗号把它和句子的其他部分隔开。
John，sad and tired，wandered about．
Mary，young，rich，and pretty，has many boy friends．
The road，three hundred miles long，is the longest in the country．
67 7．这种形容词放在句末时强调性最强，这时句子的谓语大多为不及物动词，表示一个动作。如果句子短，前面可以不加逗号。
John wandered about sad and tired．（=John wandered about，and was sad and tired．）
He approached，careless of danger．
He struggled and struggled，unable to get up．
John fell down unconscious.
He sat there silent and sad．
68 8．解释性形容词一般对主语进行解释，偶尔也用来说明宾语。
He placed me，dirty and damp，beside the king．
They took John，half dead，to the hospital．
D．作独立成分
69 9．形容词可用在句首，起独立成分的作用，和句子的其他任何词都没有联系，只对整个句子做某种说明。多和其他词结合使用，较少单独使用。
First，we need money；second，we need courage．
True，he has married twice．
He has no job．Worse，he is ill．
Sad to say，I cannot trust a woman any more．
Needless to say，he is the worst man in this city．
Curious to relate，she loves a poor man like me．
Contrary to the popular opinion，a very strong man often dies young.
Most wonderful of all，he began to repent．
Most important of all，one should know oneself．
Best of all，he is extremely patient．
E．作感叹语
70 10．形容词有时用作感叹语，表示一时的情绪。
Stupid! He must be crazy．
Very good! Do it again．
Right! So what is wrong?
Wonderful! Wonderful!
Shocking! I have never seen such a thing．
How dangerous!
F．只作表语或只作定语
71 有些形容词只能用作表语，不能在名词前作定语，这类形容词可称为表语形容词，如ill，well，content，unable，sorry，glad，mindful，exempt，bound（for），bent（on），afraid，ashamed，asleep，awake，away，aware，alike，alive，alert，averse，agape，astir，ablame，afloat，afire（还有其他以a-开始的词）。
正确用法：
He is alone．
I saw him alone．
The old man，alone on the island，looked like a beast．
Alone on the island，the old man looked like a beast．
He wandered about sad and alone．
错句：
He is an alone man．（应用lonely或lonesome）
The alone woman has lived here many years．（lonely）
若在名词前作定语，可改用其他形容词，如可以用sick代替ill，以happy代替glad，以frightened代替afraid，以contended代替content。有个别这类词可作定语，但意思有变化，如：
What a sorry（可悲的）situation!
This is a glad（令人高兴的）day for us．
72 有些形容词只能用作定语，不能用作表语，如left，right，inner，outer，upper，hinder，utter，former，elder，eldest，major，minor，latter，lesser，wooden，earthen，woolen，brazen，golden，ashen，leaden，flaxen。
His elder brother is fifteen．（正确）
His brother is elder．（错误）
His left hand is wounded．（正确）
His wounded hand is left．（错误）
He has a wooden house．（正确）
His house is wooden．（错误）
The figure is golden．（错误）
The pot is earthen．（错误）
但在用于引申意义时，有些这类形容词可以这样用，如：
His future looks golden．（正确）
His face is ashen．（正确）
二、两类形容词
A．描绘性形容词
73 从实用角度考虑，形容词可以分为描绘性和限定性两大类。
1．绝大多数形容词都是描绘性形容词，前节所列形容词都属于这一类。它们可以表示人的品质，如Shakespearean，Darwinian，Marxian，Herculean，也可表示某些东西的特点，如Biblical，solar，celestial；可与地名有关，如Japanese，Roman，Parisian，也可与某种材料有关，如brazen，airy，earthen；可指外观，如long，colorful，square，也可指性质，如strong，harmful，lasting，或指情绪，如angry，sad，charmed等。
2．它们可以放在（a）名词前面，（b）名词后面，（c）系动词后面作补语，（d）宾语后面作宾语的补语及前章所列的其他6个位置，如：
（a）A good dictionary is necessary．
（b）A dictionary good for children is necessary．
（c）This dictionary is good．
（d）He finds the dictionary good．
3．它们大多数可用于比较级，如：
strong，stronger，strongest；long，longer，longest；beautiful，more beautiful，most beautiful；depressing，more depressing，most depressing
4．它们多数都不能用作名词或代词，除非加上某种词尾，如：
形容词——happy，honest，long，strong，sad，hungry，poor
名词——happiness，honesty，length，strength，sadness，hunger，poverty
有少数形容词可以用作名词，如：
He is a good（形容词）man．
He never does good（名词）．
He lives an evil（形容词）life．
He returns good for evil（名词）．
He always goes the right（形容词）way．
He does not know the difference between right（名词）and wrong.
He lives in a very dark（形容词）room．
He never goes out after dark（名词）．
He felt cold（形容词）．
He shivered with cold（名词）．
5．描绘性形容词都放在限定性形容词后面，用来修饰同一名词，如all rich men，any red dress。
6．它们对名词的单复数问题不产生影响，如fat boys，wise boys，kind-hearted boys。
B．限定性形容词
74 还有一类形容词称为限定性形容词。
1．这类形容词数量不多，仅仅有几十个。但它们用得很多，也很重要。它们可以表示数量，如much，little，也可表示数目，如many，numerous，few，five。最重要的是，它们可以表示“哪个”，如this，that，all，any，some，every，either，both，the，a，这些也可称为指示词（Demonstratives）。
2．它们只能用在名词前面，不能用于其他位置，如：
Some dictionaries are very useful．
He has a car．
John has no children．
You may ask me any question．
但有少数例外情况，例如有些可作表语或补语：
His faults are very few，and mine are very many．His money is too much，and mine is too little．He is fifteen．
有少数这类词常可用作补语，但这时它们是代词，而不是形容词，如That is all.中的all，My advice is this.中的this以及Such is my purpose.中的such。
3．这类形容词一般不能用于比较级，只有少数表示数量的形容词可有比较级和最高级，如many（or much），more，most；few，fewer，fewest；little，less，least。
4．它们大多可以用作代词或名词，只有少数除外（如no，a，the，every）。
Much has been said．
Seven were killed．
John's is better than mine（不能用my）．
Mine is the red one．
Both of them are ill．
Don't say that．
5．如果它们和描绘性形容词修饰同一个名词，则放在描绘性形容词的前面。
He has many good friends．（不能说good many friends）
He knows some such honest northern people．（不能说honest northern some such people）
6．它们决定后面所修饰名词的单复数。下节将详细讨论这个问题。
三、限定性形容词与名词单复数的关系
75 限定性形容词，或称限定词（Determinatives），对它所修饰的名词（主体词）起某种限定的作用，即决定在三种情况中属于哪一种：（a）可数名词——单数，（b）可数名词——复数，（c）不可数名词。换句话说，它必须与主体词在是否可数，以及是单数还是复数上一致。某一特定的限定词，其主体词只能是单数可数名词，如this book；另一限定词只能和一个复数可数名词一起用，如these books；再一种限定词只能用来修饰不可数名词，如much ink；第四种情况是限定词可以和任何名词连用，如some book，some books，some ink。
76 有些词组起着限定词的作用，如a number of，lots of，a great deal of，它们和单一的形容词作用一样。例如在a number of students中，a number of修饰名词（主体词）students，意思接近some。如果机械地把number看作主体词，把of students看作定语，就会理解错误。
77 1．单数可数限定词或限定词型的短语（简称SCD）a，one，each，every，either，neither，such a，many a，another，a certain，a single，half a都只能用在单数可数名词（简称SCN）前面。简言之，SCD用在SCN前面。［S=singular，C=countable，D=determinative，N=noun］
He has a car．（正确）
He has a cars．（错误）
He has a money．（错误）
A certain gentleman came.（正确）
A certain gentlemen came．（错误）
He has not a single ink．（错误）
I have never seen such an animal．（正确）
I have never seen such an animals．（错误）
Such a water is not good for us．（错误）
78 2．单数可数限定词（简称SCD）、不可数限定词（简称UD）或起同样作用的短语，如this，that，a kind（or sort，type，class，form，make，style，brand，breed，species）of可用在单数可数名词（SCN）或不可数名词（UN）前面。简言之，SCD，UD用在SCN，UN前面。［U=uncountable］
This book is enjoyable．
This weather is enjoyable．
This books are enjoyable．（错误）
That car is mine．
That milk is sour．
That cars are mine．（错误）
This is a kind of bat．
There is a sort of gas called oxygen．
A Pekinese is a species of dogs．（少见）
79 3．通用限定词（简称GD）或类似短语the，some，any，no，what，his（or John's，etc．），the same，the very，all the，part（or half，most）of the，many kinds（or sorts，types，etc．）of等，可用在任何名词的单数或复数（简称为GN）前面。简言之，GD用在GN前面。［G=general］
He has no car．
He has no cars．
He has no money and no humour．
The same gentleman came．
The same gentlemen came．
He has not the same ambition as you have．
What house do you want?
What houses do you want?
What bread do you want?
What education do you want?
80 4．不可数限定词（简称UD）或类似短语much，little，a little，not a little，a good（or great）deal of，a large（or small）amount of，a bit of，a touch of，a trace of等，可用在不可数名词（简称UN）前面。简言之，UD用在UN前面。［P=plural］
He has a little money and a little humour．
We need a good deal of ammunition and a good deal of encouragement．
He has a large amount of property but a small amount of joy of life．
There is a touch of salt and sarcasm in his writing．
含有quantity的短语只能用在物质名词前面。
A large quantity of beer is produced．
We consume great quantities of food every year．
另外，某些短语只能用在抽象名词前面。
There is a shade of meaning in it．
He has a spice of humour and malice．
There is an element of risk in this enterprise．
I find a streak（or tinge，flavour，hint，suggestion）of truth in his remarks．
We must be armed with a great measure（or a high degree）of courage．
81 5．复数可数限定词（简称PCD）或类似短语few，a few，not a few，only few，but few，several，a couple（of），various，divers，sundry，an assortment of；two（or three，etc．），all，certain，other，those，these，both，many，numerous，frequent，a great many，a good many，a number of，great numbers of，most，the majority of，the generality of；dozens（or hundreds，thousands，tens of thousand）of等，只能用在复数可数名词（简称PCN）前面。简言之，PCD用在PCN前面。［P=plural］
He has a few dollars．
He has a few dollar．（错误）
He has a few money．（错误）
He has a few strength．（错误）
Most students dislike algebra．
Most student dislike algebra．（错误）
Most fruit juice is full of vitamins．（错误）
I want other dictionaries．
I want other dictionary．（错误）
I want other bread．（错误）
82 6．复数可数限定词（PCD）或不可数限定词（UD）及其类似短语such，enough，a lot of，lots of，plenty（of），a variety of，（an）abundance of等，只能用在复数可数名词（PCN）或不可数名词（UN）前面。简言之，PCD，UD用在PCN，UN前面。
He has lots of animals．
He has lots of paper and ink．
He has lots of animal．（错误）
I like such houses．
I like such tea．
I like such house．（错误）
又如：
an infinity of oranges（of sunshine）
a world of trees（of trouble）
a wealth of illustrations（of experience）
a sight of people（of money）
a wilderness of roofs（of furniture）
an ocean of faces（of yellow sand）
a minimum of words used to create a maximum of effect
oceans of coconuts（of money）
tons of books（of money）
83 7．反过来说，单数可数名词前面只能用77—79节所列限定词。
He has dog．（错误）
He has good dog．（错误）
He has very good dog．（错误）
He has a dog．（正确）
He has another dog．（正确）
He has another good dog．（正确）
Person has come．（错误）
Important person has come．（错误）
What person has come?（正确）
What important person has come?（正确）
84 8．单数可数名词前不可用80—82节中所列限定词。
He has much book．（错误）
He has certain book．（错误）
He has such book．（错误）
He has many books．（正确）
He has a certain book．（正确）
He has such a book．（正确）
85 在限定性形容词和它的主体词之间可以插入一个描绘性形容词，这不影响上述规律。
He has many dogs．（正确）
He has many pretty dogs．（仍然正确）
He listened to some stories．（正确）
We listened to some exciting love stories．（仍然正确）
He has wife．（错误）
He has pretty wife．（仍然错误）
He has very pretty wife．（仍然错误）
He has very pretty young wife．（仍然错误）
四、表示“激起情绪”和“感到情绪”的形容词
86 表示情绪的形容词值得特别注意。有些纯粹是形容词，如angry，fearful，familiar，而另一些是由动词加词尾-ing或-ed构成的，称为现在分词或过去分词。后面这类形容词有些是表示“激起某种情绪”的，有些是表示“感到某种情绪”的。shameful表示“使人感到羞耻”，如：Such a son is shameful.主语son并不感到羞耻。但ashamed却不同，它表示“感到羞耻”，如：My son is ashamed．同样，the interesting children表示“使人感兴趣的孩子们”，而the interested children表示“感兴趣的孩子们”。因此我们可以把shameful，interesting这类形容词称为“激起情绪”的形容词（Adjectives of Exciting），而把ashamed，interested这类形容词称为“感到情绪”的形容词（Adjectives of Feeling）。
和“激起情绪”的形容词连用的名词多指东西，指人的较少。我们常说shocking rumours，tiresome work，painful experience。这类形容词只在少数情况下和表示人的名词连用，如tiresome fellows。
和“感到情绪”的形容词连用的名词多指人（或指有情绪的动物），而不指物。我们可以说a frightened bird，the astonished stranger，the annoyed girl，而不能说a frightened story（应说a frightening story），the astonished news（应说the astonishing news）。但这类形容词可修饰人格化的东西或能有感受力的东西，如the troubled face，her sad eyes，John's determined mouth，the angry sea，the melancholy moon。
87 英语中有很多对形容词都和某种情绪有关，如delightful，delighted；satisfactory，satisfied。其中有一个表示“激起某种感情”，如delightful，satisfactory；另一个表示“感到某种感情”，如delighted，satisfied。这两种形容词不仅用在名词前面作定语，还可放在其他位置作补语等。
下面例句仅表示这两种形容词在系动词后的用法。
“激起情绪”的形容词 “感到情绪”的形容词
It is painful． He is pained．
pleasant． pleased．
tiresome． tired．
delightful． delighted．
satisfactory． satisfied．
frightful． frightened．
reminiscent（of something）． reminded（of it）．
forgettable． forgetful．
有些“激起情绪”的形容词以-ing结尾，而“感到情绪”的形容词以-ed结尾。
激起情绪 感到情绪
It is amusing． He is amused．
interesting． interested．
shocking． shocked．
astonishing． astonished．
disgusting． disgusted．
annoying． annoyed．
gratifying． gratified．
perplexing． perplexed．
charming． charmed．
fascinating． fascinated．
有些形容词既可表示“激起情绪”，又可表示“感到情绪”。
激起情绪 感到情绪
It is curious． He is curious．
comfortable． comfortable．
fearful． fearful．
joyful． joyful．
doubtful． doubtful．
suspicious． suspicious．
clear to him． clear about it．
familiar to him． familiar with it．
五、冠词
88 冠词the和a，an是最重要，也是最复杂的形容词。以man一个词为例，就有man，a man，men，the men和the man几种选择，其中牵涉到是否用冠词及用哪个冠词的问题。除了用不用冠词的问题，还有名词可数与否的问题。
冠词总是放在名词前面，若这个名词有形容词修饰，冠词通常放在形容词前面，若形容词前还有副词，则冠词需放在副词前面，如：
This is a car—a good car—a very good car．
He can answer the question—the difficult question—the most difficult question．
但若形容词为such，many或what，冠词a应放在它后面，如：
I never met such a man．
