构词法-复合词
复合词,顾名思义,是由两个词组成的一个词。两个词复合在一起构成一个词是英语里常见的构成手段。
一、复合形容词profit的形容词
复合形容词是复合词的一种。一般来说,英语构成复合形容词的方法很多,下面我们将列举几种常见的方法:
1、最常见的一种方法是复合形容词的后一部分是具有形容词性质的现在分词或过去分词,这
类复合形容词常用于描写人的外表和性质。例如:curly-haired, blue-eyed, rosy-cheeked, sun-banned, thin-lipped, broad-shouldered, left-handed, slim-hipped, lone-legged, flat-footed, open-necked, tight-fitting, open-toed, warm-hearted, absent-minded, light-hearted, easy-going, good-tempered, big-headed, two-faced, self-centered, quick-witted。
2、另外一种构成复合形容词的方法是复合形容词的后一部分是副词,例如:well-off, worn-out,
cast-off, broken-down, burnt-out, all-out, hard-up, built-up, run-down, drive-in。
3、此外,还有一些构成复合形容词的方法,这些方法也非常有用。例如long-distance, full-time,
first-rate, off-duty, cut-price, interest-free, duty-free, sugar-free, top-secret, world-famous, water-proof, long-standing, time-consuming, record-breaking, state-owned, air-conditioned, man-made, remote-controlled, so-called。
二、复合名词
复合名词与复合形容词一样,都是由两个词组成的复合词,只不过得出的复合词所具有的词类性质不同而已。复合名词具有名词的性质。一般来说,构成的英语复合名词的方法主要有两种:名词+名词;动词+副词或者副词+动词
①在书写方面,两个名词可以分写,之间不用任何方式相联,例如science fiction, address book, bank account, think tank; 两个名词之间可用联字符联结,例如baby-sitter, pen-name。两个名词联写成一个词,例如earring, windscreen, handcuffs.
②在发音方面,复合名词的重音通常落在第一个名词上,例如heart attack, credit card;但有时也落在第二名词上,例如family planning, data-processing。
③在数的方面,组合后的复合名词可以是可数的,例如alarm clock, assembly line, package holiday, contact lens, burglar alarm, blood donor, tea-bag, pedestrian crossing;也可以是不可数名词,例如birth control, blood pressure, pocket money, junk food, income tax, hay fever, food
poisoning;也可以只用作单数,例如labour force, mother -tongue, arms race, brain drain, welfare state, death penalty, sound barrier, generation gap;也可以只用作复数,例如human rights, traffic lights, sunglasses, luxury goods, grass roots, road works。
2、由动词和副词构成的复合名词是从短语动词转化而来的,这类复合名词在英语里也很多。对于这类复合名词,要注意以下几点:
①这类复合名词的复数形式是在复合名词后面加-s即可,例如dropouts, pinups。
②动词加副词与副词加动词构成的复合名词有时词义有所不同,例如let-out与outlet 不同,前者意为“出逃时机,可钻空子的机会”;而后者则为“出路,出口”。类似的词还有一些,如look-out 与outlook, set-up与upset,layout 与outlay
③由短语动词演化而来的复合名词多用于新闻报道之中,给人一种不很正式的感觉,例如:There will be going to be a walkout(=strike)at the factory this afternoon.
④这类复合名词常常用于描写经济、技术等与现代生活较为紧密的反面,例如:
Output of computers has increased double in the last few weeks. (production)
A breakthrough has been made in AIDS research. (important discovery)
We made a profit of $1000 in the turnover of $10000. (money value of sales in a business)
We are trying to find some outlets for our products. (places to sell)
I can easily get you a printout of this article. (paper on which computer information has been printed)