核心问题
如何分析pitch dark这样的结构?
词典解答
pitch dark(漆黑的)是名词(pitch)作状语修饰形容词(dark)的一个实例。其他如 world famous(世界著名的), snow white(雪白的) computer controlled(由计算机控制的), brick red(砖红色的), mountains high(山一样高的), lead heavy(像铅一般重的)。再如:
I can't see a thing, Langdon thought, straining to distinguish any shapes at all in front of them. It was pitch black. (Dan Brown, The Da Vinci Code) 我什么也看不见啊,兰登心想。他欠起身子想看看前面有些什么东西,然而外面漆黑一团。(《达·芬奇密码》)
有时在名词和形容词之间加连字符。这时可以看作是一个复合形容词:
grass-green(草绿色的), rock-hard(岩石般坚硬的), sea-green(海绿的), air-tight(气密的)。