概述
表语是用来说明主语的身份、性质、品性、特征和状态的,表语常由名词、形容词、副词、介词短语、不定式、动词的-ing、从句来充当,它常位于系动词（be, become, appear, seem,look,sound,feel,get,smell等词）之后.如果句子的表语也是由一个句子充当的,那么这个充当表语的句子就叫做表语从句.
[编辑本段]表语的各种形式
一. 名词作表语
Africa is a big continent.
非洲是个大洲.
That remains a puzzle to me.
这对我还是个难题.
二. 代词作表语
What’s your fax number?
你的传真号是多少?
Who's your best friend?
你最好的朋友是谁?
三. 形容词作表语
I feel much better today.
我今天感觉好多了.
四. 数词作表语
She was the first to learn about it.
她是第一个知道的人.
五. 不定式或ing形式作表语
Her job is selling computers.
她的工作是销售电脑.
Our next step was to get raw materials ready.
我们下一步是把原料准备好.
六. 介词短语作表语
The patient is out of danger.
病人脱险了.
I don’t feel at ease.
我感到不自在.
七. 副词作表语
The sun is up.
太阳升起来了.
I must be off now.
现在我得走了.
八. 从句作表语
This is what he said.
这就是他所说的话.
九、不定式作表语
作表语的不定式短语通常是说明主语的内容,这时主语通常是如下名词：
hope, idea, job, plan, wish, aim, purpose, thing, business
The purpose of new technologies is to make life easier, not to make it more difficult.
新技术的目的是使生活更便利,而不是更繁琐.
Her wish is to become a singer.
她的愿望是当一名歌手.
Our plan is to finish the work in two weeks.
我们的计划就是在两星期内完成这项工作.
十.形容词作表语
He is old but he is healthy.
英语中,修饰动词、形容词、副词等的句子成分叫状语（adverbial).
状语的功用：状语说明地点、时间、原因、目的、结果、条件、方向、程度、方式和伴随状况等.
状语一般由副词、介词短语、分词和分词短语、不定式或相当于副词的词或短语来担当.其位置一般放在句末,但也可放在句首或句中.
副词是一种用来修饰动词,形容词,副词或全句的词,说明时间,地点,程度,方式等概念.
1.副词一般在句子中做状语．
He speaks English very well. 他英语说得非常好.
He is playing under the tree.中的under the tree是地点状语.
2. 不定式在句子中可以作目的状语.
I come specially to see you.我专门来看你.
3.介词短语
Ten years ago, She began to live in Dalian.
The boy was praised for his bravery.
4.从句作状语
When she was 12 years old, she began to live in Dalian.
If I am not busy tomorrow, I will play football with you.
5.分词作状语
Having had a quarrel with his wife, he left home in a bad temper.
Inhibited in one direction, it now seems that the Mississippi is about to take another.
[编辑本段]什么是状语
1状语是谓语里的另一个附加成分,它附加在谓语中心语的前面,从情况,时间,处所,方式,条件,对象,肯定,否定,范围和程度等方面对谓语中心进行修饰或限制.
状语与定语相同的地方是,都是前加附加成分;不同的地方是,它是谓语里的附加成分,而定语是主语或宾语里的附加成分.从句子的层次上看,状语是在第二个层次和第三个层次里的成分,有时甚至是更低层次的成分.
2状语的构成
状语的构成经常充当状语的有形容词,副词,时间处所名词,能愿动词,指示代词,以及方位短语,介词短语,动宾短语,谓词性联合短语,谓词性偏正短语,谓词性主谓短语等.
含有动量词的数量短语以及重叠式的数量短语(不论动量,物量)也可以充当状语.
此外,少数名词带上表比况的助词也可以作状语.
3状语的书面标志——"地"
状语的书面标志是结构助词"地".状语后面带或者是不带"地",情况比较复杂.一般讲来,数量短语,主谓短语,动宾短语等作状语时,大都带"地";而介词短语,方位短语,能愿动词,时间处所名词作状语时不能带"地",副词,单音节形容词作状语一般也不带"地".
谓语[predicate verb]
谓语由简单动词或动词短语(助动词或情态动词＋主要动词）构成,依据其在句中繁简程度可把谓语分为简单谓语和复合谓语两类.不论何种时态,语态,语气,凡由一个动词（或动词词组）构成的谓语都是简单谓语.
谓语动词一般由动词的各种时态来体现.例如：
I （like） walking.我喜欢走路.(一般现在时主动语态)
I (made) your birthday cake last night..昨晚我做好了你的生日蛋糕. (一般过去时主动语态)
It is used by travellers and business （people all over the world）.全世界旅行者和商人都使用它 (一般现在时被动语态)
[编辑本段]复合谓语
可分为两种情况：
第一种是由情态动词,助动词+不带to的动词不定式构成的重复谓语：
What does this word mean? 这个单词是什么意思?
I won’t do it again. 我不会再做它（指这件事）.（旧译“我没有再次赢得它.”为 "I didn't win it one more time"）.
I’ll go and move away the bag of rice with Lin Tao. 我会同Lin Tao（一起）移开那袋米的.
You’d better catch a bus. 你最好乘坐公交车.
第二种是由连系动词+表语构成的复合谓语.例如：
You look the same. 你(们)看起来一样.
We are all here. 我们都在这儿.
The weather gets wamer, and the days get longer. 天气变的暖了,日子变的长了.
Keep quiet and listen to me. 保持安静并听我说.
He looked worried. 他看起来很忧愁.
We have to be up early in the morning. 我们必须在早上早起.
Is Bill in? 比尔在吗?（*旧译“帐单在吗?”对应英文为 "Is the bill here?" "bill"为特指,前应加定冠词"the",且 "bill" 应为小写开头）.
School Is over. Let’s go home. 课上完了,我们回家吧.
My pen is in my bag. 我的钢笔在我的书包里.
I* fell tried all the time. 我整天感到疲惫.
He seemed rather tired last night. 他昨天看起来相当的累.
连系动词和表语在意思上紧密联系,不宜分割