“问 编辑老师,我是贵报的忠实读者,贵报在英语学习上给了我非常大的帮助,在此我深表感谢。我有一个疑问,请您帮助解答。句子改错:
The excited expression on his face suggested that the news was good. (他脸上兴奋的表情暗示这是一个好消息。)答案是把 excited 改为 exciting,为什么?)(河北滦县二中 章树强)答 这道题实际上牵涉到现在分词与过去分词作定语的区别问题。一般情况下,现在分词作定语时表示动作的主动或正在发生，而过去分词则表示动作的被动或已完成。
例如：
developing countries = countries that are developing 发展中国家
a growing city = a city that is growing 发展着的城市
finished products = products that are finised 成品
imported machines = machines that have been imported 进口的机器
a hand-operated pump = a pump that is operated by hand 手工操作泵”[《英语辅导报》(高二版),2001-2002 第6期]
您同意上面的解答吗？
首先应当指出,这里的 excited 和 exciting 并不是分词,而是分词型的形容词。
其次应当指出,上句中的 excited expression 的说法是正确的。为什么呢? 因为形容词 excited 描述的对象虽然常常是人,但是,它也可以用来描述与人有关的事物上,如 look(表情), expression, talk 等。例如:
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His thin face had a worried look. 他瘦削的面孔上带着忧愁的神色。
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They came in with flushed excited looks on their faces. 他们走了进来,脸上带着害羞而又激动的神色。
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She looked at him with a surprised expression on her face. 她面带惊讶的表情望着他。
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His expression was rather surprised. 他的表情很惊讶。
上句中的 the excited expression 是指“心情激动的表情”（excited 本是描述主语 he 的，现在转移到他的表情上）。如果把 excited 改为 exciting，则其意义便变为“令人激动的”，而这是与句意不符合的。