Theproblemconfrontinguswasenormous.这句话中confront是什么用法?不是weconfronttgeproblem吗?为什么用ing啊?

Question

The problem confronting us was enormous.这句话中confront是什么用法?不是we confront tge problem吗?为什么用ing啊?

Answer 1

The problem confronting us,confronting us是修饰problem的定语,是非谓语动词做定语,所以用confront的现在分词形式.
可以说we confront the problem（我们面对困难）,也可以说the problem confronts us（困难横在我们面前）,后者用得少些,但此处为了problem做主语就这么用了.
非谓语动词做定语例子：
1.主动的用现在分词,括号内是修饰the picture的
the picture （hanging on the wall） is painted by my brother.
2.被动的用过去分词,括号内是修饰the picture的
the picture （painted by my brother） is hanging on the wall.