名詞片語中的補語 (complements)
在名詞片語中,補語緊接在名詞之後。它們是介系詞片語或名詞子句,是使名詞意思完整的必要元素。若無補語,我們將無法瞭解各該名詞所指為何。例如:
- A rise in the unemployment rate is likely in the coming months. (未來幾個月失業率可能會上升)
- 句中 a rise in the unemployment rate 是名詞片語,其中 rise 是名詞,而 in the unemployment rate 是當補語用的介系詞片語。 - A feeling of fear and loneliness is almost impossible to imagine. (恐懼和孤獨的感覺幾乎是無法想像的)
- 句中 a feeling of fear and loneliness 是名詞片語,其中 feeling 是名詞,而 of fear and loneliness 是當補語用的介系詞片語。 - The idea that schools should control their own finances is not a new one. (學校應該控制自己財務的想法並不新穎)
- 句中 The idea that schools should control their own finances 是名詞片語,其中 idea 是名詞,而 that schools should control their own finances 是當補語用的名詞子句。一般文法書稱 idea 與 that 所引導的名詞子句為同位語。 - The fact that he has fully recovered makes me happy. (他已痊癒,真令我高興)
- 句中 The fact that he has fully recovered 是名詞片語,其中 fact 是名詞,而 that he has fully recovered 是當補語用的名詞子句。一般文法書稱 fact 與 that 所引導的名詞子句為同位語。