所謂名詞修飾語（noun modifiers）就是可以用來修飾名詞的詞類、短語和從句。
可以修飾名詞的詞或詞類甚多，包括下面10種：
㈠形容詞：good, bad, able, honest 等
㈡復合形容詞：four-sided, dark-eyed, three-hour, high-rise, poverty-stricken 等
㈢現(xiàn)在分詞：smiling, amusing, annoying, astonishing, thrilling 等
㈣過去分詞：lost, damaged, frightened, disappointed, crowded, burnt, stolen 等
㈤名詞：a flower garden, a basketball match, a tea party, an emergency meeting 等
㈥動名詞：walking stick, dining-room, laughing-stock, steering committee 等
㈦所有格：John's hat, tomorrow's weather forecast, two hours' discussion 等
㈧副詞：the statement above, the branches overhead, the bedroom upstairs 等
㈨數(shù)目詞：many, few, a few, some 等
㈩數(shù)量詞：much, little, a little 等
這里有些事要注意。首先，除了復合形容詞、所有格、數(shù)目詞、數(shù)量詞可以超過一個字之外，其余的名詞修飾語，都是單字單詞的。其次，除了副詞（通常是時間性或地點性的）出現(xiàn)在名詞后面之外，其余的都出現(xiàn)在名詞前面。例如：
① Jason is an honest man.
② I have just received a hand-written letter.
③ Susan spoke with a smiling face.
④ The police pulled away the damaged car.
⑤ Kim Seng likes his pocket dictionary.
⑥ Miss Song got the first prize in the swimming match.
⑦ All the players were allowed to have 10 minutes' rest.
⑧ There are a few errors in this essay.
⑨ After the shopping trip, Janet did not have much money left.
⑩ All the facts and figures above have been checked.
（11） The lights overhead need cleaning.
（12） The children upstairs are very noisy.
（13） There will be some discussion afterwards.
①－⑨里的修飾語都在名詞前出現(xiàn)。⑩－12里的地方副詞和13里的時間副詞卻緊隨名詞之后。
既然副詞必須擺在名詞之后，像第14句里的地方副詞“below” 就不對了。
（14） We hope that you will find the below information useful.
只要把“below”副詞移到名詞“ information”后面就對了。
“We hope that you will find the information below useful.”
不然，就把“below”改成意思相近的形容詞“following”，這樣位置就可以保持不變。
“We hope that you will find the following information useful.”
最后有一點要特別提醒的是數(shù)目詞和數(shù)量詞的運用。前者和復數(shù)名詞連用，如例⑧及⑧a和⑧b ：
⑧a. I have some good friends.
⑧b. There are too many mistakes in this letter.
后者只能和不可數(shù)名詞連用，如例⑨及⑨a和⑨b：
⑨a. We need some help in this matter.
⑨b. Please put a little sugar in the tea.
有些詞，既表示“數(shù)”又表示“量”，⑧a和⑨a里的“some”，便是個好例子。
可以修飾名詞的詞或詞類甚多，包括下面10種：
㈠形容詞：good, bad, able, honest 等
㈡復合形容詞：four-sided, dark-eyed, three-hour, high-rise, poverty-stricken 等
㈢現(xiàn)在分詞：smiling, amusing, annoying, astonishing, thrilling 等
㈣過去分詞：lost, damaged, frightened, disappointed, crowded, burnt, stolen 等
㈤名詞：a flower garden, a basketball match, a tea party, an emergency meeting 等
㈥動名詞：walking stick, dining-room, laughing-stock, steering committee 等
㈦所有格：John's hat, tomorrow's weather forecast, two hours' discussion 等
㈧副詞：the statement above, the branches overhead, the bedroom upstairs 等
㈨數(shù)目詞：many, few, a few, some 等
㈩數(shù)量詞：much, little, a little 等
這里有些事要注意。首先，除了復合形容詞、所有格、數(shù)目詞、數(shù)量詞可以超過一個字之外，其余的名詞修飾語，都是單字單詞的。其次，除了副詞（通常是時間性或地點性的）出現(xiàn)在名詞后面之外，其余的都出現(xiàn)在名詞前面。例如：
① Jason is an honest man.
② I have just received a hand-written letter.
③ Susan spoke with a smiling face.
④ The police pulled away the damaged car.
⑤ Kim Seng likes his pocket dictionary.
⑥ Miss Song got the first prize in the swimming match.
⑦ All the players were allowed to have 10 minutes' rest.
⑧ There are a few errors in this essay.
⑨ After the shopping trip, Janet did not have much money left.
⑩ All the facts and figures above have been checked.
（11） The lights overhead need cleaning.
（12） The children upstairs are very noisy.
（13） There will be some discussion afterwards.
①－⑨里的修飾語都在名詞前出現(xiàn)。⑩－12里的地方副詞和13里的時間副詞卻緊隨名詞之后。
既然副詞必須擺在名詞之后，像第14句里的地方副詞“below” 就不對了。
（14） We hope that you will find the below information useful.
只要把“below”副詞移到名詞“ information”后面就對了。
“We hope that you will find the information below useful.”
不然，就把“below”改成意思相近的形容詞“following”，這樣位置就可以保持不變。
“We hope that you will find the following information useful.”
最后有一點要特別提醒的是數(shù)目詞和數(shù)量詞的運用。前者和復數(shù)名詞連用，如例⑧及⑧a和⑧b ：
⑧a. I have some good friends.
⑧b. There are too many mistakes in this letter.
后者只能和不可數(shù)名詞連用，如例⑨及⑨a和⑨b：
⑨a. We need some help in this matter.
⑨b. Please put a little sugar in the tea.
有些詞，既表示“數(shù)”又表示“量”，⑧a和⑨a里的“some”，便是個好例子。