一般情况下，语法书中对形容词是这样描述的：用来修饰和说明名词或代词，表示人或物的性质、性质和状态，其语法功能是在句中可以作定语、表语、宾语补足语，而很少或根本没有提到可以作状语。但在英语实际运用中，形容词是可以用作状语。请看2008年高考英语全国卷II单选题中有这么一道题：
After the long journey, the three of the went back home, _______.
A. hungry and tiredly B. hungry and tired
C. hungrily and tiredly D. hungrily and tired
正确答案是：B。该题考查的是形容词作状语，即考查了形容词（组）作状语。tired是由过去分词转化来的形容词，也称分词形容词。形容词（组）作状语通常修饰谓语动词，具有副词功能，是中学英语重难点语法项目，也是高考常考知识点。高三复习备考时归纳总结这一结构的用法，熟悉其特征，可以更好地帮助同学们提高综合运用英语知识的能力。笔者结合平时的教学就这一知识点进行了一些归纳和况结，希望对同学们有帮助。
一、作原因状语，通常位于句首。
Thirsty and eager to ger a little rest, she went into the restaurant and seated herself at a littl table by the window. (=As she was thirsty and eager to get a little rest, she went into the restaurant and ...)由于口渴，又渴望休息，她走进饭店，在靠窗的桌旁坐下。
二、作伴随状语，置于句首或句末均可。
1. The thief hid himself in the corner, afraid of being caught.小偷躲在角落里，担心被人抓住。
2. Excited and overjoyed, the children rushed to the front.孩子们又激动又欣喜地跑到了前面。
三、作让步状语，由or连接两个以上的并列形容词短语构成。可位于句首或句中。
1. Every nation, big or small, should be equal.每个国家无论大小，都应一律平等。
2. Right or wrong, I'll stand by you.无论对错，我都支持你。
四、作时间状语。
Glad,I play the guita. (=When I am glad, I play the guitar.)
五、作评注性状语，表示说话人的看法、态度和评价。
1. Curious, the result turned out that way.真奇怪，结局竟然是那样。
2. He lived there, lonely.他住在那里，很孤独。
拓展精练:
1. ______and happy, Tony stood up and accepted the prize. (06全国卷I)
A. Surprising B. Surprised C. Being surprised D. To be surprised.
2. ______ in the mountains for a week, the two students wre finally saved by the local police. (05江苏)
A. Having lost B. Lost C. Being lost D. Losing
3. After his journey from abroad, Richard Jones returned home, _____.
A. exhausting B. exhausted C. being exhausted D. having exhausted
4. They returned home, _______.
A. safely and sound B. safely and soundly
C. safe and sound D. safe and soundly
5. To their great relief, the missing child returned home, _______, after an absence of two weeks.
A. felt tired and sound B. tiring and soundly
C. feeling tired but soundly D. tired but sound
