有一读者问： 有这样一个句子：
(1)He must be able to use the foreign language, forgetting all about his own.
关于句中的own一词，有的老师说它是形容词，有的老师则说它是名词。我认为它是名词，不知是否正确。
关于上述句（1）中的own，英语学者并没有一致的看法。有的认为它是形容词；有的认为它是强调限定词；有的认为它是限定词兼代词；有的认为它是形容词兼代词；有的认为它是形容词兼名词。为了结合我国的英语教学实际，我们认为可把问题简单化一点，将own看作形容词，但可用作名词，即所谓名词化的形容词。这样分析有一好处：可将own与一些别的名词化的形容词联系起来，加以类比，比较便于我国学生学习。现在，就让我们按照句（1）中的“物主代词his+名词化的形容词own”结构，举一些与之相类似的结构，如物主代词+best，young,dear, sick，dead, like等名词化的形容词，其实例如下：
(2)The peach blossom is at its best now.
(3)Most animals have an instinct to protect their young .
(4)Mary, my dear , is that you?
(5)She went about teaching the poor people the care of their sick .
(6)They were accustomed to bury their dead in the sea.
(7)They and their like are so utterly mean.
