形容词在句中可以作定语、表语和补语，还可以作状语，具有副词的功能。形容词作状语一般用逗号隔开，根据情况可位于句首、句末，也可位于句中，相当于一个从句，具有以下语义和特征。

　　一、 形容词或形容词短语作状语，表示方式或伴随，说明谓语动作的方式，它在句子中有时像非限制性分句一样，表示意义上的增补。其逻辑主语是句子的主语。在这种情况下，其位置比较灵活，可位于句首或句末，有时也可位于句中。

　　Crusoe stared at the footprint, full of fear.(= Crusoe, who was full of fear, stared at the footprint.)克鲁索两眼盯着脚印看，满心恐惧。

　　Flushed and breathless, she bounded in through the gate. 她满脸通红气喘吁吁从大门口跑了进来。

　　二、形容词或形容词短语可以作原因状语，一般位于句首，有时也可位于句子中间。

　　Afraid of being scolded, for a moment, little Franz thought of playing truant.(=As he was afraid of being scolded, for a moment, little Franz thought of playing truant.)由于害怕挨骂，小弗朗兹一时起了逃学的念头。

　　Eager to improve farming conditions, they tried out this new crop on a large area.(=As they were eager to improve farming conditions, they tried out the new crop on a large area.) 由于急于改进耕作条件，就大面积地试种了这种新庄稼。

　　Tom, very ill, sent for a doctor.(=As Tom was very ill, he sent for a doctor.) 因为汤姆病得很厉害，派人请医生去了。

　　三、形容词或形容词短语可以作状语，表示时间和条件。通常位于句首，也可位于句末。

　　Ripe, these apples are sweet.(=When/If these apples are ripe, they are sweet.) 熟了的时候这种苹果很甜。

　　Enthusiastic, they are quite cooperative.(=When/If they are enthusiastic, they are cooperative. ) 热心的时候他们是很合作的。

　　四、形容词或形容词短语可以作让步状语，常由一个形容词或连词or连接的两个或两个以上的并列形容词构成。一般位于句首，有时也可位于句中。

　　Right or wrong, he always comes off worst in an argument because of his inability to speak coherently.(=Whether he is right or wrong, he always comes off worst because of his inability to speak coherently.) 无论有理还是无理，由于他语言条理欠佳总是把事情弄得最糟。

　　Wet or fine, he got up at six and took a walk in the park.(=Whether it was wet or fine, he got up at six and took a walk in the park.) 不管天晴还是下雨他总是六点起床在公园里散散步。

　　The two accidents, tragic, seemed natural enough. (=Though they were tragic, the two accidents seemed natural enough.) 尽管两场事故损失惨重，然而是必然的。

　　五、形容词或形容词短语可以作状语，表示结果和状态等意义。它在句中的位置比较灵活。

　　For a moment she just stood there, unable to believe what had just happened. 她在那儿呆呆地站了一会儿，不敢相信刚才发生的事情。

　　One woman was lying in bed, awake, listening to the rushing winds. 有一位女人醒着躺在床上，静听着那疾驰而过的大风。

　　They stayed in the snow for several days, cold and hungry. 他们在雪地里呆了几天，又冷又饿。

　　六、形容词或形容词短语可以作状语, 表示说话人的态度和看法。它通常位于句首。

　　Worse still, the lion could even carry off the baby in its mouth.更糟糕的是，狮子甚至可能把婴儿叼走。

　　Surprising, there are five SARS patients in his family. 真惊人，他一家就有五位“非典”病人。

　　Necessary, young people can speak good English. 年轻人会说通顺的英语是必要的。

　　(文/程中一； 英语辅导报高中教师版 04~05学年度第16期；版权归英语辅导报社所有，独家网络合作伙伴新浪教育，未经许可，不得以任何形式进行转载。)