非謂語動詞在句中作定語
在英語句子中，不定式to do，分詞v+ing 和v+ed 以及動名詞v+ing 是非謂語動詞，除不能作謂語外，其他成份都可擔當，其中一個成份就是作定語。
不定式to do在句中作定語置于被修飾名詞后，常同該名詞構成動賓關系，要是不定式是不及物動詞，其后應加上必要的介詞。例：
I have something to say. (to say something )
I’ll give you a magazine to read.
That is a good company to work for.
He is a pleasant fellow to work with.
Would you bring me a bench to sit on?
有些名詞常接不定式作定語，如：chance ,time ,reason ,way ,effort ,right (權利), movement等，例：
You haven’t any reason to leave me.
You have no right to do such a thing.
He succeeded in his effort to overcome his fatal weakness.
He put himself out of the way to help others.
We have no time to lose..
Thank you for giving me the chance to make the speech.
The first ,the last ,the second ,the best 等常與不定式連用作定語。例：
He is always the first to come.
She would be the last to agree to our plan.
You are the second to ask me that question.
I’ll do my poor best to fix it up.
當to go ,to spare 作“剩下”講時可作定語。例：
He had five minutes to go before time was up.
They had only 100 dollars to spare.
不定式用在某些句子中作定語相當于一個定語從句，表示動作即將發生。例：
There are many difficulties to overcome.
= There are many difficulties that will have to be overcome.
He has a large family to support.
= He has a large family that he must support.
現在分詞與過去分詞作定語
現在分詞和過去分詞在句中都可以作定語，但在語態和時間概念上有區別，在語態上，現在分詞表主動，過去分詞表被動，在時間上，現在分詞表示動作正在進行，而過去分詞則表示動作完成。例：
boiling water (主動、進行)
boiled water (被動、完成)
有時過去分詞則表示被動，不表示完成的動作，有時則表示動作的完成，不表示被動的動作。例：
the fallen leaves (動作已完成)
developed countries (動作已完成)
an interested party (被動)
單個分詞作定語置于被修飾詞前。例：
China is a developing country.
He lit a fire and from it took a burning stick.
America is a developed country.
有些單個分詞（尤其是現在分詞）作定語時也可以置于被修飾詞之后，特別如一些不定代詞 anything ,something ,everything ,nothing 等則應后置。例：
the experience gained (獲得的經驗)
for the time being (暫時)
for years running ( 一連數年)
She found the window open and something stolen.
There is nothing doing.
There is nothing interesting in today’s paper.
They can see everything happening on the line.
Is there anything interesting in the book?
分詞短語置于被修飾詞之后
The pen lying on the table belongs to you.
The boy making faces is my son.
I like songs performed by Mao Aming.
其實作定語的分詞短語可以擴展為定語從句。如上述三句可改為：
The pen which is lying on the table belongs to you.
The boy who is making faces is my son.
I like songs which was performed by Mao Aming.
現在分詞作后置定語表示一個（現在或將來）正在進行的動作，或者表示某經常性動作或狀態。例：
Can you see the star moving in the sky?
There is a piano standing in the corner.
如果分詞所表示的動作在時間上同謂語動詞所表示的動作不一致，不能使用現在分詞，而應使用定語從句。例：
I want to know the man breaking the window. (X)
Break 的動作是先發生
上例不能用現在分詞，應改為定語從句。如：….who broke the window.
Do you know anyone having lost money. (X)
Do you know anyone who lost money. (V)
因此我們就知道在那種情況下定語從句可以用現在分詞代替，即：定語從句動詞所表示的時間同主句謂語動詞的時間一致時。例：
Did you see the man (who was) talking to the headmaster?
The hospital which stands /standing across the street was set up last year.
(stands 表示一個經常性的狀態)
過去分詞在時間上，表示的動作發生在謂語動詞之間，表示與句中謂語動詞相應的經常性動作；或表示一個正在進行的動作，用being +過去分詞結構。例：
Is this the book written ( which was written) by Henry James?
He was then a teacher respected ( who was respected ) by all his students.
The matter being discussed ( which is being discussed ) is of great importance.
He was invited to a meeting to be held ( which was to be held ) the next day.
動名詞作定語
動名詞單個詞作定語時也置于被修飾詞前，表示被修飾詞的用途、類屬等。例 ；
a writing table = a table for writing (動名詞)
a sleeping child = a child who is sleeping （現在分詞）
a swimming pool = a pool for swimming （動名詞）
a waiting room = a room for waiting （動名詞）
drinking water = water for drinking （動名詞）
No one is allowed to speak aloud in the reading room. （動名詞）
That is a shop dealing in walking stick. （動名詞）
The sleeping child was in a sound sleep. （現在分詞）
All bedrooms in this hotel have hot cold running water. (現在分詞)
從上述看，單個動名詞和現在分詞都可以作前置定語，但現在分詞和被修飾的名詞在邏輯上有主謂關系，表示被修飾名詞自身發生的動作或行為，而動名詞和被修飾的名詞不表示這種關系，只表示與被修飾名詞的用途、類屬等。
動名詞作介詞賓語構成的介詞短語可定語。例：
He is in the habit of rising early.
( of rising 修飾名詞habit )
She has a good idea of playing snowball.
( of playing 修飾名詞idea )
有些名詞有時也可接不定式和其接“介詞＋動名詞”在意義上沒有區別。例：
That is the way of setting the problem.
That is the way to settle the problem.
這類名詞常用的有：
time for doing sth. Reason of doing sth.
Time to do sth. Reason to do sth.
Freedom in doing sth. Chance of doing sth.
Freedom to do sth. Chance to do sth.
Failure in doing sth. Patience in doing sth
Failure to do sth. Patience to do sth.
Choice of doing sth. Opportunity of doing sth.
Choice to do sth. Opportunity to do sth.
但有些名詞和purpose ,method ,idea ,habit 等后面只能接of + 動名詞，不接不定式，有些名詞如promise ,effort ,desire ,attempt ,ability ,refusal ,determination ,failure 不接of + 動名詞，但可以接不定式。例：
It is surprising that they should choose this method of passing the evening. (不用……method to pass)
The old man is in the habit of reading the newspaper at breakfast. (不用……habit to do )
Ｉdon’t trust his promise to come for a visit. （不用……promise of coming ）
She had persisted in her refusal to spend Christmas in Bursley . （不用……refusal of spending）
But his efforts to get her back were vain. (不用……efforts of getting)
[示例]
考題1 ---What do you think of the middle school?
---It is a very good ___.
A. school to study B. School to study in
C. Studying school D. school for children to study
解析 從本題的答案看并結合提干的要求接上一個名詞school，后在這個名詞后面使用不定式作該名詞的定語，從答案中看給的不定式to study，在此是作不及物動詞，因此不定式的后面應加上一個介詞in才合乎題意，所以選Ｂ。
考題２ Snow was falling when they went along a mountain path ___ to the front.
A. to lead B. Led C. Leading D. being led
解析 據題意提干前有一個名詞path，其后是介詞組to the front ，即要求一個現在分詞和to the front連成現在分詞短語修飾名詞path作定語，path名詞雖表示物不能使用過去分詞，是小路本身延伸到前線的，所以選Ｃ。
考題３ They set up an ____ table in a small temple to operate on the ___ soldiers.’
A. operating ;wounded B. Operated ;wounding
C. operated ;/wounded D. operating ;wounding
解析 據題意在第一個提干里應使用動名詞作tale的名詞的定語，修飾table，說明戰士是被槍擊傷的即受傷的士兵，表被動完成的動作，所以選Ａ。
［訓練］
The cadre told me that he had a meeting ____.
A. to attend B. Attend C. Attending D. to be attended
He asked for a piece of paper ____ and a pen _____.
to write ;to write B. To write ;to write on C. To write on ;to write with D. writing ;writing
Are you going to the dinner party ____ at the hotel.
A. to give B. To be given C. Giving D. to giving
The man drinking ____ water was scalded (燙傷) by ___ water yesterday.
A. boiled ; boiled B. Boiling ;boiling C. Boiled ;boiling D. boiling ;boiled
Holding a ____ stick he went into the dark cave.
A. burn B. Burnt C. To burn D. burning
責任編輯：李芳芳