不及物動詞的現在分詞作定語表達強調動作正在進行，過去分詞強調完成;及物動詞的現在分詞作定語強調主動，過去分詞強調被動。分詞的完成式一般不作定語。分詞作其他成分時，也是如此。分詞作定語，單個的分詞作定語一般前置;分詞詞組，個別分詞如given， left等，修飾不定代詞等的分詞，作定語需后置。例如：

We can see the rising sun. 我們可以看到東升的旭日

He is a retired worker. 他是位退休的工人

There was a girl sitting there.有個女孩坐在那里

This is the question given. 這是所給的問題

There is nothing interesting. 沒有有趣的東西

分詞作定語相當于定語從句，如Most of the people invited to the party were famous scientists. = Most of the people who wereinvited to the party were famous scientists.

典型例題

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. 書與寫作是被動關系，應用過去分詞做定語表被動，相當于定語從句 which was written

2)What’s the language ____ in Germany?

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

答案B. 主語language與謂語動詞之間有被動的含義。spoken，在句中作定語，修飾主語language， spoken 與 language有被動關系。該句可以理解為：What’s the language (which is) spoken in German?