| 词组 | classifying expressions noun noun or preposition structure |
| 释义 | Contents overview classifying expressions : noun + noun or preposition structure?gold and goldengold and goldengoldgolden 126.410727lead and leadenlead and leadenleadleaden and leaden 126.411007silk and silkensilk and silkensilksilken 126.411597126 classifying expressions: noun + noun or preposition structure?1classifying expressions: a sheepdogThe noun + noun structure is mostly used to make 'classifying' expressions, which name a particular kind of thing.mountain plants (a special group of plants)mineral water (a sort of water)a sheepdog (a particular kind of dog)We use noun + noun especially to talk about things that belong to common well-known classes (so that the two nouns really describe a single idea). In other cases we prefer a preposition structure. Compare:the postman, the milkman (well-known kinds of people who may call regularly at a British home)a man from the health department (not a regular kind of visitor)More examples:–He was reading a history book. (a common class of book)He was reading a book about the moon. (not a moon book)–She was sitting at a corner table in the restaurant. (Restaurants often have corner tables.)Who's the girl in the corner? (not Who's the corner girl?)–What does that road sign say?She was showing signs of tiredness. (not … tiredness signs.)2containers: a matchbox; a box of matchesNoun + noun is used for particular kinds of container.a matchboxa paint tina coffee cupBut we use the preposition structure (with of) to talk about a container together with its contents.a box of matchesa tin of painta cup of coffee3units, selections and collections: piece, group, etcWe also prefer the of-structure with words that refer to units, selections and collections, like piece, slice, lump (of sugar), bunch (of flowers), blade (of grass), pack (of cards), herd, flock, group and so on.a piece of paper (not a paper piece)a bunch of flowers (not a flower bunch)4'made of': a silk dress; silken skinNoun + noun is normally used to say what things are made of.a silk dressa stone bridgean iron roda gold ringIn older English, the of-structure was more common in this case (e.g. a dress of silk, a bridge of stone), and it is still used in some metaphorical expressions.He rules his family with a rod of iron.The flowers were like a carpet of gold.A few pairs of nouns and adjectives (e.g. gold, golden) are used as modifiers with different meanings. Generally the noun simply names the material something is made of, while the adjective has a more metaphorical meaning. Compare:a gold watchsilk stockingsa lead pipea stone roofgolden memoriessilken skina leaden sky (grey and depressing)a stony silenceBut wooden and woollen just mean 'made of wood/wool'.Previous Next |
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英语用法大全包含1354条英语用法指南，基本涵盖了全部常用英文词汇及语法点的翻译及用法，是英语学习的有利工具。