首先，我们先看一下什么是后置定语?
后置定语是英语法中修饰名词的修饰语，因位置在所修饰的名词后，所以叫后置定语。
比如：the girl dancing with Tom’s brother中dancing with Tom’s brother修饰前面的girl，翻译为与Tom哥哥跳舞的女孩，是后置定语。
当然可以做后置定语的成分很多，但在雅思阅读考试中必考的是非谓语动词做后置定语的形式。
非谓语动词主要由三种形式，现在分词doing、过去分词done和不定式to do，2021年考试中尤其以现在分词考察的最多。
1. 现在分词短语作后置定语
现在分词用作后置定语通常表示这个分词的逻辑主语和它是一种主动的主谓关系，但由于句中已经有了谓语，所以在这种情况下只能用非谓语动词中的现在分词的形式来表示，比如例句1-4。
例句1: C5T2P1 第六段中
Sharp corners proved impractical and were thus avoided, giving rise to the smooth, “streamlined”style popular in the 1930s.
句中的giving是非谓语动词，与主句的主语sharp concerns构成主动关系，由sharp corners发出give这个动作。
例句2: C6T1P3 F段中
With so much at stake, the Inuit are determined to play a key role in teasing out the mysteries of climate change in the Arctic. Having survived there for centuries, they believe their wealth of traditional knowledge is vital to the task.
第二句中的having是非谓语动词，与句子主语they构成主动关系，they指代第1句的the Inuit ，由they发出have这个动作。
刚刚看到了真题文章中的现在分词做后置定语的例句，那么现在分词如何帮我解题呢?
让我们看例句3和例句4现在分析如何解题的吧!
例句3: C5T1P1(剑桥5的第1套第1篇，后同)第六段中
Working to a deadline, he had to draw on the best of all previous dictionaries.
句中的working是非谓语动词，与句子主语he构成主动关系，由he发出work这个动作。
而第1-3题多选中的F选项说：It ignored work done by previous dictionary writers.，明显与原文内容矛盾，故排除。
例句4: C8T1P1 A段中
According to archaeological evidence, at least 5,000 years ago, and long before the advent of the Roman Empire, the Babylonians began to measure time, introducing calendars to co-ordinate communal activities, to plan the shipment of goods and, in particular, to regulate planting and harvesting.
句中的introducing是非谓语动词，与主句的主语Babylonians构成主动关系，由Babylonians发出introduce这个动作。
好的，我们刚刚看到了现在分词的解析，那么过去分词和不定式如何帮助我们解题呢?
2. 过去分词短语作后置定语
和现在分词不同的是，过去分词和它修饰的中心词是一种逻辑上的动宾关系，有的时候经常可以看作是定语从句的省略形式，如例句1。
例句1: C8T1P1 E段中
Italian hours began at sunset, Babylonian hours at sunrise, astronomical hours at midday and “great clock”hours, used for some large public clocks in Germany, at midnight.
句中的used是非谓语动词，与主句的主语Italian hours构成被动关系，由Italian hours承受used这个动作。即Italian hours被使用。
该句话中Italian, Babylonian, Germany等不同的时间与第4题details of the simultaneous efforts of different societies to calculate time using uniform hours中的different societies对应。
3 不定式短语做后置定语
例句3: C8T1P1 第1段中
According to archaeological evidence, at least 5,000 years ago, and long before the advent of the Roman Empire, the Babylonians began to measure time, introducing calendars to co-ordinate communal activities, to plan the shipment of goods and, in particular, to regulate planting and harvesting.
句中的to co-ordinate communal activities修饰前面的calendars.
该句话中的communal activities与第8题They created a calendar to organise public events and work schedules. 中的public events对应。
总结
2021年雅思阅读考频中，后置定语集中出现在选择和配对题中，重点看现在分词、过去分词和不定式的后置定语的用法。
你学会了吗?赶紧打开真题，尝试一下后置定语的魔力吧!
