形容词转化为动词:
The city quieted down again.
We must lower our expenses.
Don’t dirty your new dress.
He pretends to busy himself writing.
少数其他词类也可用做动词:
Truth will out.
This will help to further the sciences.
有些形容词可以转化为名词
The temperature reached a new high.
I enjoy the quiet of the country.
This was a custom among the ancients.
They kept indoors in the dead of winter.
有些形容词可以转化为副词:
He sells his goods very dear.
The blow struck him full in the face.
Come closer so that I can see you.
You can live cheaper in the smaller towns.
一些其他转化情况:
He walked north. 名→副
I’ll drive you home. 名→副
The future is full of ifs. 连→名
She was a very forward young lady. 副→形
They asked him to give a repeat performance. 动→形
She paled when we told her the news. 形→动
Don’t ask the whys. 连→名
During the war we had to black out all our windows. 形→动
派生法
派生法又叫词缀法,即在一个单词前或其后加上词缀,构成新的单词。中学英语中以派生法生成的词汇占整个中学词汇总量的25%。一般说来前缀不会改变一个词的词性,后缀往往改变词性。
否定前缀:
表示否定意义的前缀常用的有dis-, il-, im-, in-, ir-, mis-, non-, un-等,在单词的前面加这类前缀常构成与该词意义相反的新词。
un +形容词:unfit, unhappy, unfair, unlucky, unfortunate, unkind, unimportant, unnecessary, uncomfortable, unselfish, unusual, uncommon, unexpected, unknown, unthinkable, unbelievable, unseen, unforgettable, unwise, unhealthy, unpleasant, unable, untrue
由un+形容词构成的词除了unknown, unseen, unfit等词之外,其它词都可变为加-ly的副词(个别形容词尾需要变动)。
un+副词:undoubtedly, unexpectedly, unfortunately, unusually, unhappily, unluckily
un+动词:uncover, untie, unlock, undress, undo, unpack
im+形容词:impossible, impolite
in+形容词:incorrect, incomplete, invisible, independent
ir+形容词:irregular
mis+动词:misspell, misunderstand, mistake
dis+名词:dishonour, disease, discomfort
dis+形容词:dishonest, discouraged
dis+动词:disappear, dislike, discover, disclose, disagree, discomfort, dismiss
表示其他意义的前缀:
常用的有a-(多构成表语形容词), anti- (反对;抵抗), auto- (自动), co- (共同), en- (使),inter- (互相), re- (再;又), sub- (下面的;次;小), tele- (强调距离)等。
a-,大多加在音节较少的名词或不及物动词上构成新词,表示“在……之上、向……、处于……状态”:
ahead, abroad, aside, alive, awake, above, about等。
fore-,表示“在……前面”:forehead, foreground, forearm, foreleg
in, il, im, ir表示“向……内,在……内”:inside, include, import
inter-,表示“在……间、相互”:international
intro-,表示“在(向)……内”:introduce
out-,表示“向外”:outside, outlook, outdoors, outflow
over-,表示“在上面的、在外的”:overhead, overlook, overcoat, overcome, overtime, overgrow
pre-,表示“在前”:prefix, preposition
pro-,表示“在(向)前”:progress, programme
sur-,表示“在……上”:surface, surround
trans-,表示“转移”:translate
under-,表示“在……下”:underground, underline