不及物动词的现在分词作定语表达强调动作正在进行，过去分词强调完成;及物动词的现在分词作定语强调主动，过去分词强调被动。分词的完成式一般不作定语。分词作其他成分时，也是如此。分词作定语，单个的分词作定语一般前置;分词词组，个别分词如given， left等，修饰不定代词等的分词，作定语需后置。例如：

We can see the rising sun. 我们可以看到东升的旭日

He is a retired worker. 他是位退休的工人

There was a girl sitting there.有个女孩坐在那里

This is the question given. 这是所给的问题

There is nothing interesting. 没有有趣的东西

分词作定语相当于定语从句，如Most of the people invited to the party were famous scientists. = Most of the people who wereinvited to the party were famous scientists.

典型例题

1) The first textbook ___ for teaching English as a foreign language came out in the 16th century.

A. have written B. to be written C. being written D. written

答案D. 书与写作是被动关系，应用过去分词做定语表被动，相当于定语从句 which was written

2)What’s the language ____ in Germany?

A. speakingB. spoken C. be spokenD. to speak

答案B. 主语language与谓语动词之间有被动的含义。spoken，在句中作定语，修饰主语language， spoken 与 language有被动关系。该句可以理解为：What’s the language (which is) spoken in German?