2 silver还是silvery
Papa seemed shorter, and Mama’s hair was silver now.
这是高中英语新教材译林版必修1第2单元的句子(p26)。
请问这里为什么用名词 silver，而不用 silvery？
最佳答案 2022-02-06 08:30
其实，silver 既可以用作名词（=银，银器），也可以用作形容词（=银制的，银灰色的）。
My grandmother has silver hair. 我的祖母一头银发。
形容词 silvery 的意思是“似银的；银色的”或“（嗓音）银铃般的，清脆悦耳的”。如：
The grass was silvery with frost. 结霜的草地泛着银光。
We were woken early by the peal of silvery bells. 我们一大早就被一阵清脆的铃声吵醒了。
从词义上看，形容头发的灰白，用 silver 和 silvery 都可以。但从语法上看，形容词 silver 可以用作定语和表语，而 silvery 通常用于名词前作定语。所以网友的句子(用作表语)宜用 silver 而不是 silvery。
其它 2 个回答
蒋老师说 silvery 通常用于名词前作定语，这个观点是有依据的。比如：
我的理解是silver比silvery使用更为普遍，两个在表示颜色时，都是形容词，基本可以互换。经谷歌查询， hair is silver的使用率远高于hair is silvery.
针对网友提到的silvery作表语的用法的疑问，特以谷歌提供的例句作为依据如下：
1. His hair is silvery, his beard somewhat long and straggling, and of a silky whiteness.
2. In Africa the wolf attains a larger size than in Europe: its hair is silvery, and almost white.
3. Though our work is only forty years old yet her hair is silvery!
4. His complexion is fresh, his whiskers are gray and worn in the English fashion, his hair is silvery, his head well-shaped, his eyes gray and keen, and the tout ensemble that of a very pronounced Scotchman.
5. He describes his stomach as "corporation type," his hair is silvery, his cheeks are pink, and in repose his face has the look of a middle-aged cherub.
6. Her hair is silvery, long and flowing in the unfelt wind.
使用silver作表语修饰hair的句子更多，因此这里特作省略。
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