1.2 名詞單復(fù)數(shù)運(yùn)用中應(yīng)注意的一些問題
1.總是用作單數(shù)的名詞
誤:Bring me a chalk.
正:a piece of chalk
誤:He gave me many good advices.
正:many pieces of good advice
(1)物質(zhì)名詞代表物質(zhì)的全體,無復(fù)數(shù)形式,如要說到該項(xiàng)物質(zhì)的具體多少,須在前面加單位名詞,變復(fù)數(shù)時(shí),即將此單位名詞改為復(fù)數(shù),常見的這類名詞有:chalk,meat,paper,soap,bread,furniture,baggage,clothing,food,merchandise,equipment,lightning,thunder,toast,corn,jewelry,luggage,mail,music,air,smoke,hydrogen,oxygen,nitrogen,water,oil,milk,ink,electricity,heat,darkness,sunshine,weather,chemistry,economics,mathematics,physics,dirt,dust,flour,rice,salt,sand,grass,hair。
(2)抽象名詞沒有復(fù)數(shù)形式,并且也不能把不定冠詞加在它們的前面,如要加以數(shù)的觀念時(shí),須加“a stroke of”,“twopieces of”等表量的短語于它們的前面,如 a stroke of luck,two pieces of informa-ion,many pieces of advice等,這類常見的抽象名詞有:advice,infor-mation,luck,bravery,courage,happiness,honesty,love,enjoyment,recreation,relaxation,fun,laughter,peace,ignorance,intelligence,knowl-edge,work,trouble。
注意以下四點(diǎn):
①water,silk,ash等物質(zhì)名詞用復(fù)數(shù)形式時(shí),則成普通名詞,如watets(海水),silks(綢衣),ashes(骨灰、遺體)。
a.Many ships go down on the waters.
b.She is dressed in silks.
c.His ashes are in Westminister Abbey.
②glass,tin,copper等物質(zhì)名詞也可當(dāng)作普通名詞,加s則成復(fù)數(shù),試比較:
a.He drank a glass of beer.
He filled the glasses with wine.
b.I opened a tin of peaches.
I bought two tins of coffee.
c.I haven't a copper in my pocket.
He gave the beggar a few coppers.
③advice作“消息、通知、報(bào)告”解時(shí)有復(fù)數(shù)形式:
a.We have advices to the effect that the price of copper isdeclining.
b.From the latest advices from Geneva,I learn that Austria willbe- come an independent nation on May 15.
④其他例子:
a.He bough three pounds of meat.
b.Here are two cakes of soap.
c.A bed is a piece of furniture.
d.She has bought a new article of clothing.
2.總是用作復(fù)數(shù)的名詞
誤:We ptayed billiard.
正:billiards
誤:Please accept my warmest congratulation on yourgreduation.
正:congratulations
(1)許多由雙邊、多邊或幾個(gè)部分合成的物質(zhì)名詞都要用復(fù)數(shù)形式。
①衣物:breeches(馬褲),knickers(燈籠褲),shorts(短褲),pants(短襯褲),drawers(內(nèi)褲),clothes(衣服),pyjamas(睡衣),rags(破舊衣服),duds(破衣服),reach-me-downs(現(xiàn)成或穿舊的衣服),cast-offs(不再穿的衣服),weeds(喪服),fleshings(肉色緊身衣),tails(燕尾服),habiliments(禮服),trappings(禮服、服飾)等等。
a.The poor were in duds.
b.After her husband's death,the widow was in weeds for a longtime.
②工具:scissors(剪刀),grasses(眼鏡),shears(大剪刀),pliers(鉗子),bellows(風(fēng)箱),spectacles(眼鏡),tongs(鉗、夾子),goggles(護(hù)目鏡),bifocals(雙光眼鏡),contactlenses(無形眼鏡),binoculars(望遠(yuǎn)鏡),blinders(障眼物),irons(鐵鐐),fetters(腳鐐),shackles(鐐銬),bonds(鐐銬),manacles(手銬),forceps(鉗子),calipers(卡鉗),tweezers(鑷子),snuffers(燭剪),nail-shears(指甲剪),edging-shears(修邊剪),secateurs(整枝大剪刀),dividers(圓規(guī)),compasses(兩腳規(guī)),scales(天平),等等。
a.The glasses are on the table.
b.The pair of glasses is on the table.
c.The pants are in the drawer.
d.This pair of pants is bought for you.
③一些病名:measles(麻疹),hives(蕁麻疹),rickets(佝僂?。琾iles(痔瘡),mumps(腮腺炎),rabies(狂犬?。琯landers(鼻疽?。?,shingles(帶狀胞疹),arthritis(關(guān)節(jié)炎),gripes(腹或腸痛),thebends(高空?。?,等等。當(dāng)這些名詞作主語時(shí),謂語動(dòng)詞常用單數(shù):
a.Measles takes a long time to get over.
b.Glanders is a contagious disease of horses with swellingsbelow the jaw,and sores in the nose and throat.
④某些以-s結(jié)尾表示球類或游戲的名詞:billiards(臺(tái)球戲),dominoes(西洋骨牌),darts(投鏢游戲),bowls(滾木球游戲),draughts(西洋跳棋),checkers(彈子游戲),fives(球戲),skittles(九柱戲),ninepins(九柱戲),nineholes(九孔戲),musicalchairs(搶座位游戲),marbles(彈子游戲),cards(牌),等等。當(dāng)這些名詞作主語時(shí),謂語動(dòng)詞用單數(shù):
a.Billiards is played by women as well as men.
b.Dominoes is played with 28 flat oblong pieces of bone orwood.
c.Draughts is an easier game than chess.
(2)表示錢財(cái)及與錢財(cái)有關(guān)的名詞,常用的有:means(財(cái)產(chǎn)),wages(工資),savings(存款),takings(進(jìn)款),earnings(賺的錢),gains(收入),gainings(利潤),winnings(掙來的錢),havings(財(cái)產(chǎn)),finances(財(cái)源),revenues(總收入),proceeds(收入),supplies(零用錢),funds(資金),receipts(收入),returns(利潤),pickings(利潤),alms(救濟(jì)金),damages(賠償費(fèi)),extras(額外費(fèi)用),repara-tions(賠款),reprisals(賠償費(fèi)),breakages(賠償損失費(fèi)),expenses(費(fèi)用),securities(債券),gratuities(賞金),reprises(租金),stakes(賭金),arrears(欠款),arrearages(欠款),engagements(債務(wù)),liabilities(債務(wù)),consols(統(tǒng)一公債),incidentals(雜費(fèi)),dues(應(yīng)付費(fèi)),assets(財(cái)產(chǎn)、資產(chǎn)),outgoings(支出),possessions(財(cái)產(chǎn)),temporalities(教會(huì)財(cái)產(chǎn)),coffers(財(cái)產(chǎn)、金庫),prospects(將來可能得到的財(cái)產(chǎn)),lands(地產(chǎn)、田產(chǎn)),effects(私人所有物),belongings(所有物),traps(隨身攜帶物),things(所有物),moneys(金額、款項(xiàng)),valuables(貴重物品),purse-strings(財(cái)權(quán)),haves(富人、富國),have-nots(窮人、窮國),等等。
a.He is a man of means.
b.I'd like to help you,but I'm momentarily out of funds.
c.We must try our best to make receipts meet expenditures.
(3)某些表示住所、所在地、場地、范圍、界限等的名詞,常用的有:quarters(住所),lodgings(住所),digs(住所),customs(海關(guān)),headquarters(司令部),movies(電影院),pictures(電影院),premises(房屋),grounds(周圍場地),lists(競技場),mews(馬廄),shambles(屠宰場),limits(范圍),bounds(范圍),precincts(范圍),confines(范圍),purlieus(近郊),soundings(音域),high-seas(公海),waters(領(lǐng)海),head-waters(河源、源流),shallows(淺水處),depths(深處),bowels(深處),shades(黑暗處),sticks(農(nóng)村),environs(郊區(qū)),outskirts(郊區(qū)),suburbs(郊區(qū)),wilds(未開發(fā)之地),ladies(女廁所),tropics(熱帶),battlements(城垛),eaves(屋檐),等等。
a.He spent his Christmas Day in his lodgings.
b.The officers were having a meeting at the divisionheadquarters.
c.This is beyond the confines of the human knowledge.
d.Is there any fish in the depths of the ocean?
(4)表示剩余物、遺物、遺體、渣滓、屑滓等的名詞,常用的有:leavings(剩余物),bits(吃剩的東西),scraps(殘羹剩飯),remnants(殘余物),rinsings(殘?jiān)?,grounds(渣滓),scourings(渣滓),dregs(渣滓),lees(渣滓),tailings(尾渣),greaves(脂渣、金屬渣),sweepings(垃圾),cleanings(垃圾),remains(遺體),ashes(骨灰),ruins(遺址),relics(遺址),gleanings(殘遺物),filings(鐵屑),chippings(片屑),parings(削下的皮),shavings(刨花),clippings(剪下物),等等。
a.It's not easy to wipe out the remnants of bourgeoisrights.
b.Effective measures must be taken to deal with thescourings.
c.Those scientists were studying the gleanings for long hours ofre- search.
(5)表示命令、指示、吩咐、指導(dǎo)、準(zhǔn)備等的名詞,常見的有:orders(命令),dictates(命令),directions(指示),instructions(指示),specifications(說明書),teachings(教導(dǎo)),arrangements(準(zhǔn)備),等等。
a.You must obey the dictates of your own conscience.
b.The teachings of Marx and Lenin on the state areveryimportant.
c.Arrangements have been made to give the foreign guests a warmwelcome.
arrangement作“計(jì)劃、準(zhǔn)備”解時(shí),必須用復(fù)數(shù)形式,但作“安排”解時(shí),可依據(jù)不同的情況用作單數(shù)可數(shù)名詞或不可數(shù)名詞:
a.It is a personal arrangement.
b.The arrangement of the furniture took us a long time.
(6)某些表示記錄、筆記、回憶錄、游記等的名詞,常見的有:observations(觀察記錄),pages(記錄),transactions(會(huì)議記錄),muni-ments(記載、證書),minutes(記錄),archives(檔案),recollections(回憶錄),reminiscences(回憶錄),memoirs(回憶錄),travels(游記),等等。
a.Professor Brown has read a lot of pages of history.
b.At the end of his career in politics,he retired and wrote hismem- oirs.
(7)某些表示環(huán)境、情景、情況、條件等的名詞,常見的有:sur-roundings(環(huán)境),difficulties(困境),straits(困境),prospects(前景),expectations(前程、前景),circumstances(情況),matters(情況),things(情形),proceedings(進(jìn)行情況),movements(活動(dòng)情況),times(生活情況),conditions(情況),merits(本身情況),rights(實(shí)況、真情),terms(條件),strings(附加條件),等等。
a.Before liberation,thousands of poor people fell into hopelessstraits.
b.He wrote an account of the proceedings of the meeting.
c.The police think this man may be the thief they're lookingfor,so they're watching his movements.
d.The enemy were under unfavourable conditions.
(8)某些表示祝賀、祝福、祝愿、祈禱、致敬、致意、致謝、問候、吊唁等的名詞,常見的有:congratulations(祝賀),wishes(祝愿),prayers(祝福),devotions(祈禱),rogations(祈禱),matins(晨禱),devoirs(致敬),thanks(致謝),regards(問候),compliments(問候),respects(問候),greetings(問候),remembrances(問候),condo-lences(吊唁),等等。
a.Whatever you decide,you have my prayers.
b.Rogations were sung in Christmas Churches.
c.The young pioneers paid their devoirs to the revolutionaryfighters.
(9)表示喜怒哀樂等思想感情方面的名詞,常見的有:sweets(快樂),raptures(狂歡),gaieties(狂歡),amenities(令人愉快之事),feelings(感情),sympathies(同情心),bowels(同情心),heartstrings(最深的感情),affections(鐘愛),addresses(求愛、殷勤),sensibilities(感情),moods(心情),spirits(精神),bitters(苦難),mopes(憂郁),blues(悶悶不樂),apprehensions(憂慮),cares(憂慮),misgivings(憂慮),worries(苦惱),nerves(神經(jīng)緊張),creeps(毛骨悚然的感覺),horrors(恐懼),willies(恐懼感),fidgets(坐立不安),sufferings(苦難),pains(辛勞),rigours(艱苦),labours(勞累),jumps(心驚肉跳),ills(苦難),throes(陣痛),tortures(折磨),tears(眼淚),woes(災(zāi)難),wits(理智),lights(智能),convulsions(捧腹大笑),等等。
a.They went into raptures over the victory.
b.The sight of the small child crying tugged at myheartstrings.
c.No matter how hard he tried,he couldn't get rid of thecares.
d.The author described the rigours of prison life.
(10)某些表示容貌、外表、風(fēng)度、舉止行為、姿態(tài)、道德、風(fēng)俗習(xí)慣、禮儀等的名詞,常見的有:looks(容貌),charms(妖媚),appearances(外表),features(外表),graces(行為舉止),airs(姿態(tài)),morals(道德),manners(禮貌、風(fēng)俗習(xí)慣),proprieties(禮儀),等等。
a.He was infactuated with her charms.
b.He has read a novel of manners recently.
c.We must observe the diplomatic proprieties.
(11)其他常以復(fù)數(shù)形式出現(xiàn)的名詞:advices(消息、報(bào)導(dǎo)),au-thorities(當(dāng)局),afters(最后一道菜),affairs(事物),accountrements(裝備),facilities(設(shè)備),fittings(設(shè)備),gallows(絞刑架),controls(控制系統(tǒng)),house-lights(照亮觀眾席的光),communications(交流),auspices(舉辦、贊助),bread-stuffs(糧食、面粉),comestibles(吃的東西),edibles(可吃的東西),provisions(食品),durables(耐用品),furnishings(家俱),greens(蔬菜、植物),breakables(易碎品),casualties(傷亡),chaos(混亂),colours(旗幟),doubles(雙打),finals(決賽),designs(陰謀),wiles(詭計(jì)),dealings(交往),relations(關(guān)系),dimensions(尺寸、程度),proportions(面積),deserts(應(yīng)得的懲罰),depredations(毀壞),elements(基本東西、惡劣天氣),exercises(軍事演習(xí)),manoeuvres(演習(xí)),fruits(成果),guts(內(nèi)臟),games(運(yùn)動(dòng)會(huì)),honours(優(yōu)秀成績),hostilities(戰(zhàn)爭),italics(斜體),innings(盤、局),lazybones(懶家伙),leading-strings(牽繩),lines(臺(tái)詞),likes(愛好),dislikes(不喜歡的東西),mains(自來水管道),minerals(礦泉水),masses(群眾),munitions(軍需品),stores(補(bǔ)給品、軍需品),necessaries(必需品),oils(油畫),paints(顏料),goodofficers(幫助、調(diào)解),overtures(主動(dòng)的表示),pleadings(起訴書),pick-les(酸菜),preserves(果醬),potentialities(潛力),qualifications(必要的能力),rudiments(基礎(chǔ)、萌芽),ranks(士兵),rapids(急流),resources(資源),rations(定額、定量),repercussions(影響),repairs(維修),rav-ages(毀滅性影響),ravings(瘋話),shortcomings(缺點(diǎn)),tops(最好的一個(gè)),thews(肌肉),vitals(重要部分),wanderings(長途旅行),wants(渴望),reins(統(tǒng)治),strictures(責(zé)難),lights(家畜的肺),bygones(往事),clutches(爪子、控制),等等。
a.It is revised according to the latest advices.
b.We need some consumer durables.
c.Greens are vegetables,such as cabbages.
d.The general was proud that his men had taken the enemy coloursin battle.
(12)某些慣用或固定短語中常以復(fù)數(shù)形式出現(xiàn)的名詞,常見的有:turn the tables on sb.(轉(zhuǎn)敗為勝),makeamends(陪罪),rake one's brains(絞盡腦汁),with flying colours(大獲全勝),showone's colours (現(xiàn)出本來面目),stick to one's colours(堅(jiān)持自己的觀點(diǎn)),rain catsand dogs(大雨滂沱),be all fingers and thumbs(笨手笨腳),up to the elbowsin(忙于),go to the dogs(差點(diǎn)毀滅),give oneself airs(驕傲),keep upappearances(裝門面),be on pins and needles(坐立不安),castles in theair(空想),carry coals to Newcastle(做徒勞而多余的事),have one's head in theclouds(虛無飄渺),haul over the coals(嚴(yán)厲批評(píng)),compare notes(交換意見),takenotes(記筆記),out of one's senses(失去理智),come to blows(動(dòng)手互毆),with openarms(熱烈歡迎),on all fours(完全相似、爬著),lose one's bearings(迷失方向),full ofbeans(精力充沛),spill the beans(不慎泄密),armed to the teeth(全副武裝),showone's teeth(發(fā)怒),as thick as thieves(親密無間),kick over thetraces(不服駕馭、不受約束),cover up one's tracks(隱匿行蹤),make tracks(逃跑),treadon sb.'s toes(得罪某人),in terms of(關(guān)于),make friends(交朋友),hold one'shorses(忍耐),at all hazards(冒著一切危險(xiǎn)),go great guns(高速度地干),stick toone's guns(堅(jiān)守陣地),hate sb.'s guts(對(duì)某人恨之入骨),sweat one's gutsout(努力干),handle sb.with kid-gloves (溫和對(duì)待某人),for keeps(永遠(yuǎn)地),to allintends and purposes(實(shí)質(zhì)上),by inches(慢慢地),show one's horns(退縮),byhalves(不完全地),go halves(平分),put sb.behind bars(把某人送進(jìn)監(jiān)牢),pullstrings(幕后操縱),by all accounts(根據(jù)大家所知),out of one's wits (不知所措),clipsb.'s wings(使某人無計(jì)可施),lend wings(加速),wheels withwheels(復(fù)雜錯(cuò)綜之事),speak volumes for(充分說明),be (down)on one'suppers(一貧如洗),fish in troubled waters(渾水摸魚),turn up trumps(令人滿意),atclose quarters(逼近地),add fuel to the flames(火上加油),pour oil on thetroubled waters(平息風(fēng)波),be spit- ting feathers(非常生氣),stir one'sstumps(趕快),on the stocks(在準(zhǔn)備中),bring sb.to his knees(使某人屈服),gird upone's loins(準(zhǔn)備行動(dòng)),go by contraries(相反地),at all costs(不惜一切代價(jià)),knockspots off sb.(徹底打?。?,burst one's sides(捧腹大笑),by fits andstarts(間歇地),mend one's ways(改過自新),off one's oats(感覺不好),put/setsth.to rights(使某物恢復(fù)正常),no great shakes(平凡的人或事),go topieces(瓦解、變?cè)愀猓?,fall to pieces(打碎),cast pearls beforeswine(明珠投暗),blow out sb.'s brains(把某人打得腦袋開花),know one's o-nions(精明能干),get down to brass tacks(討論實(shí)質(zhì)問題),feel(it)in one'sbones(確信),play one's cards right(辦事高明),on the cards(很可能發(fā)生),as crossas two sticks(非常生氣),a bed of roses(稱心如意的境遇),a bed ofthorns(艱難的境遇),take leaves of one's senses(發(fā)瘋),on one's lastlegs(日暮途窮),let sleeping dogs lie(莫惹是非),in pairs (成對(duì)),joinhands(攜手、聯(lián)合),join forces(聯(lián)合、會(huì)師),get one's fin- gersburnt(因管閑事吃苦頭),at all events(無論如何),ups and downs (盛衰),on yourmarks(各就各位),full marks(高度贊揚(yáng)),put sb.through his paces(考驗(yàn)?zāi)橙耍?,in theeyes of(在…心目中),keep one's eyes open(留神),make eyes at(送秋波),get eyeson(見到),open one's eyes to(使認(rèn)識(shí)),throw dust in one's eyes(欺瞞),fall ondeaf ears(沒人理會(huì)),up to one's ears in(深陷于、忙于),in dribs anddrabs(點(diǎn)點(diǎn)滴滴),shake in one's shoes(嚇得發(fā)抖),leave sb.to his owndevices(聽其自然),by degrees(逐漸地),rest on one's laurels(吃老本),lick theboots of(俯首貼耳、拍馬屁),hang up one's boots(停止干某事),at sixes andsevens(亂七八糟),pull one's socks up(鼓起勁兒干),in one's shoes(處于某地位),likea cat on hot bricks(非常緊張),call the shots(發(fā)號(hào)施令),set by theears(震驚),full to the scuppers(很飽),shut/close one's eyes(閉目不見),cryone's eyes out(哭腫眼睛),eyes front/right/left(向前/右/左看),by nomeans(絕不),by all means(務(wù)必),by any means (無論如何),by some means orother(用某種方法),go shares(分擔(dān)),on the horns of a dilemma(困境),go toany/great lenths(竭盡全力),等等。
a.I made amends to my mother for breaking up her favouritecup.
b.He showed his colours when he rescued the ponies from theburning car.
c.I'm all fingers and thumbs this morning.I don't seem to beable to button my shirt.
3.名詞單復(fù)數(shù)意義的差別
a.She had a word with him.她和他說了一句話。
She had words with him.她和他發(fā)生口角。
b.He is in the blue.他在藍(lán)天上。
He is in the blues.他精神不振。
英文中有些名詞單數(shù)和復(fù)數(shù)意義不相同,如 have a word withsb.表示“和某人說一句話”,have wordswith sb.表示“與某人發(fā)生爭吵”,have a few words with sb.則表示“和某人說幾句話”,in theblues 表示“精神不振、悶悶不樂”,in the blue則表示“在藍(lán)天上”。
(1)paper
a.Write down your answer on a blank sheet of paper.
b.We have many papers coming in weekly.
paper用作不可數(shù)名詞,意為“紙”;papers用作可數(shù)名詞,意為“試卷,文件”。
(2)water
a.They were given some bread and water.
b.They were not allowed to fish in our territorial waters.
water意為“水”;waters指“連綿不斷的水,如江水、湖水、海水”。
(3)mind
a.We are all of one mind.
b.We have made up our minds to do this.
mind意為“意見”; minds意為“決心”,made up one's minds意為“下定決心”。
(4)boot
a.Jack got the boot.
b.Jack got the boots.
get the boot是俚語,意為“被解雇”;get the boots意為“得到那雙靴子”。
(5)deck
a.It's time to clear the deck.
b.It's time to clear the decks.
clear the deck意為“打掃甲板”;clear the decks是慣用語,意為“準(zhǔn)備行動(dòng)、準(zhǔn)備戰(zhàn)斗”。
(6)dump
a.The man is in the dump.
b.The man is in the dumps.
dump原意為“垃圾”;(down)in the dumps是口語,意為“精神沮喪、情緒低落”。
(7)tin
a.Are you going to buy some tin?
b.Are you going to buy some tins of sardines?
tin表示“錫”時(shí)是物質(zhì)名詞,不可數(shù);它作可數(shù)名詞時(shí)是“罐頭盒”。
(8)copper
a.Have you got any copper?
b.Have you got any coppers?
copper表示“銅”時(shí)是物質(zhì)名詞,不可數(shù),它用作可數(shù)名詞時(shí)意為“銅幣、銅鍋”。
(9)hand
a.She laid a hand on the boy.
b.She laid hands on the boy.
lay a band on sb.表示“打某人”;lay hands on sb.表示“抓住某人以便罰款”。
(10)father
a.He slept with his father.他和父親睡在一起。
b.He slept with his fathers.他和祖先埋葬在一起。
father表示“祖先”時(shí)常用復(fù)數(shù)形式。
(11)board
a.He swept the board.
b.He swept the boards.
sweep the board是習(xí)語,意為“贏得全部賭注”或“全勝”。
(12)iron
a.Please put the iron over there.
b.Please put the irons over there.
iron表示“鐵”是物質(zhì)名詞,不可數(shù);它的復(fù)數(shù)形式irons表示“鐐銬”。
(13)glass
a.Where did you put the glass?
b.Where did you put the glasses?
glass表示“玻璃”是物質(zhì)名詞,不可數(shù);它的復(fù)數(shù)形式glasses表示“眼鏡”。它表示“杯子”時(shí)是可數(shù)名詞。
(14)bronze
a.He bought some bronze.
b.He bought some bronzes.
bronze表示“青銅”時(shí)是物質(zhì)名詞,不可數(shù);它作可數(shù)名詞時(shí)指“青銅制品、銅像”。
(15)board
a.He is on the board.
b.He is on the boards.
be on the board意為“某董事會(huì)的成員”; be on the boards表示“被雇用當(dāng)演員”。
(16)fence
a.He mended his fence.
b.He mended his fences.
mend one's fences是習(xí)慣用語,指“與有關(guān)方面調(diào)整和改善關(guān)系”。
(17)sand
a.Those children found some sand.
b.Those children found some sands.
sands意為“沙灘”。
(18)salt
a.I bought some salt.
b.I bought some salts.
salts意為“瀉藥”。
(19)word
a.He had his last word.
b.He had his latt words.
one's last word表示(發(fā)言時(shí)的)最后一句話”;one's last words意為“臨終遺言”。
4.不可數(shù)名詞用作可數(shù)名詞
誤:There is much fruit in myrefrigerator:apples,oranges,tomatoes,and so on.
正:There are many fruits
誤:Mary is great help to her mother.
正:a great help
物質(zhì)名詞和抽象名詞一般是不可數(shù)的,沒有復(fù)數(shù)形式,但當(dāng)詞義發(fā)生變化時(shí),也可以出現(xiàn)數(shù)的概念。
(1)表示不同的類別時(shí),可用復(fù)數(shù),如teas(各種茶),steels(各種鋼),fruits(各種水果),grasses(各種草),snows,sands,waters則分別表示連綿不斷的雪(積雪),沙(沙漠),水(江水、湖水等)。
(2)抽象名詞有時(shí)前面加不定冠詞,就變成普通名詞,用來表示
一種、部分、結(jié)果、所有者及實(shí)例,就失去抽象名詞原有的特性。
a.It is a thousand pities.(a great pity)非常遺憾。
b.The grammar lying upon the desk is mine.
桌上的語法書是我的。
c.I have a friendship for him.我跟他有交情。
d.A good map would be a help.
e.It was a relief to sit down.
f.He had a good knowledge of physics.
g.It would be a pity to cut down these trrees.
類似的還有:a love of music,a hatred of violence,ahope/hopes,anidea/ideas(想法),a job/jobs,a day/days,a fear/fears,asuspicion/suspi-cions,a worry/worries,a need/needs。
試比較:
a.She had beauty in her youth.她年輕時(shí)長得美。
She was a beauty in her youth.她年輕時(shí)是個(gè)美人。
b.Children should show respect for their teachers.
孩子們應(yīng)該尊敬師長。
They paid a respect to the late prime minister.
他們向已故首相遺體告別。
c.I'm learning composition.我在學(xué)習(xí)寫作。
I'm writing a composition.我在寫作文。
d.Exercise makes up strong.運(yùn)動(dòng)可以強(qiáng)身。
Swimming is a good exercise.游泳是好的運(yùn)動(dòng)。
e.Life is pleasure.人生是快樂的。
Work is a pleasure to him.工作對(duì)他是一種樂趣。
f.Kindness is a virtue.友善是美德。
He has done me a great kindness.(act of kindness)
從他那兒我得到許多恩惠。
I have received many kindnesses from him.他對(duì)我非常好。
g.Life is short.人生苦短。
He lives a happy life.他生活幸福。
Many lives were lost in that railway accident.
在那次火車事故中死亡了很多人。
有時(shí)在名詞前另加表示數(shù)量的詞,也同樣有使抽象名詞變成普通名詞的作用,如what a piece ofimpudence(何等卑鄙),twenty casesof death(二十個(gè)死者),a word/piece ofadvice(一句忠言),a stroke ofwork(工作計(jì)劃),what a stroke of luck(多么幸運(yùn))。
(3)復(fù)數(shù)形式時(shí)詞義的變化。
a.Paper was made in China about 2000 years ago.
please hand in your papers.
paper意為“紙”,papers意為“考卷”。
b.The boat draws six feet of water.
They were not allowed to fish in our territorial waters.
This is a ship for service in home waters.
water意為“水”,waters意為“領(lǐng)?!?。
c.I am of your mind.
They made up their minds to give their lives to theircountry.
mind意為“意見”,minds意為“決心”。
①物質(zhì)名詞和抽象名詞的復(fù)數(shù)形式還可表示“數(shù)量之大、種類之多”等概念。試比較:
a.He did the work without any difficulty.(困難)
If you knew the difficulties I am in!
你要知道我遭到何等困難就好了!(表示困難之大)
b.A tobacconist is a person who sells tobacco.(煙草)
Some of the best tobaccos are grown in Turkey.(表示煙草種類之多)
②專有名詞通常為單數(shù),但有時(shí)根據(jù)具體情況也會(huì)出現(xiàn)復(fù)數(shù)。
a.Have you invited the Browns.(指布朗一家)
b.There are two Miss Smiths/Misses Smith in theclass.(指兩個(gè)同姓Smith的女子)
5.可數(shù)名詞用作不可數(shù)名詞
誤:He goes to work by a bicycle.
正:by bicycle
誤:There are many rooms for improvement in our work.
正:There is much room
英語中不可數(shù)名詞有時(shí)可以用作可數(shù)名詞但意思起一定的變化,如glass(玻璃),glasses(玻璃杯),tea( 茶),teas(各種茶),experience(經(jīng)驗(yàn)),experiences(經(jīng)歷)。但可數(shù)名詞有時(shí)也可以用作不可數(shù)名詞(以前我們一直稱為慣用法),如:Wewere at table when he came in.這里attable中的table已經(jīng)不再表示具體的桌子,而表示抽象的概念,其意思是“進(jìn)餐”,因而變成不可數(shù)名詞,前面沒有不定冠詞。由具體到抽象,必須變用冠詞(單數(shù)時(shí))為不用冠詞,這就是英語中可數(shù)名詞用作不可數(shù)名詞的基本特點(diǎn)。可數(shù)名詞用作不可數(shù)名詞大致可以分以下幾種情況:
(1)可數(shù)名詞school,college,market,prison,court,hospital,camp,bed,table,sea,class,church等與介詞at,after,in,to,from等連用時(shí),常失去可數(shù)名詞的具體意義,不表示這些名詞所代表的事物,而表示與之有關(guān)的情形或活動(dòng),或表明它們的使用目的,這樣的名詞轉(zhuǎn)為抽象名詞,具有不可數(shù)名詞的特點(diǎn),它們前面不能有冠詞。
a.All my children are at college.
b.He goes to school every day.
c.Before libration my father was sent to prison without anyreasonwhatever.
d.When he was a boy his greatest wish was to go to sea.
如果上述名詞用作原來的意義,即表示某一具體的實(shí)物時(shí),是可數(shù)名詞,其單數(shù)須加冠詞。試比較:
e.My daughter goes to school every day.
f.I'm going to the school to attend the parents' meeting.
(2)表示交通工具的一些名詞,如bicycle,car,bus,train,boat/ship,aeroplane/plane等與by連用時(shí),已經(jīng)不表示具體的交通工具,而表示抽象的概念,如乘車、坐飛機(jī)等,相當(dāng)于by加不可數(shù)名詞land,water,air等,onfoot(走路),on horse beck(騎馬)也屬于這種用法。
a.He goes to work by bicycle.
b.He came by boat.
c.I prefer to go on foot.
(3)一些表示職位、身份、職業(yè)的可數(shù)名詞,在句中作表語、補(bǔ)足語及同位語時(shí),表示該名詞具有的抽象意義,可看作不可數(shù)名詞。
a.His father is professor of Tianjin University.
這句中的professor側(cè)重在抽象的概念,含有形容詞的意味,它不是指教授中的一位教授,而是表示一種職位,它的意義和抽象名詞professorship相似,因而多少具有不可數(shù)的性質(zhì)。試比較:
b.His father is a professor of Tianjin University.
這句中的professor是可數(shù)名詞,是指具有教授職位的個(gè)人而言,意即:許多教授中的一位。
c.He is president of the association.
d.Comrade Li is secretary of our Party Organization.
上述中president,secretary具有抽象意義,相當(dāng)于抽象名詞presi-dentship,secretaryship,一般語法書都把這種結(jié)構(gòu)看作省略冠詞,我們認(rèn)為恐怕還是抽象化的緣故。又如在下句中,我們不能看作省略冠詞。
e.She is woman enough to understand why you are in trouble.
作為女人她能理解你為何陷入困境。
f.He was gentleman enough to help her.他十分慷慨地幫助了她。
這兩句中的woman和genthleman都不能看作省略冠詞,而相當(dāng)于抽象名詞womanhood,gentlemanship,又如:
g.She is all woman.她女性味十足。
h.I am more engineer than soldier.
與其說我是士兵,不如說我是工程師。
這兩句中的woman和engineer更不能理解為省略了冠詞,同樣用作抽象名詞,相當(dāng)于形容詞。
(4)在表示數(shù)量的of結(jié)構(gòu)中,如 a bit of garden,a kilometre ofrailway,a patchof road,two miles of bumpy road,a few square feet offloor,an inchof pencil,acres of lawn,two-hundred miles ofwall以及表示頭銜、學(xué)位、地位的of結(jié)構(gòu)中,如 the rank of general,the title ofhero,thepost of usher等,of后的名詞具有抽象意義,用作不可數(shù)名詞。
(5)在一些短語中,可數(shù)名詞常失去可數(shù)名詞的具體意義而發(fā)展為抽象意義,用作不可數(shù)名詞。
a.The trees are now in flower.
b.There's no school tomorrow.
c.He's on holiday.
(6)有些名詞既可作可數(shù)名詞,又可用作不可數(shù)名詞,但意義不一樣,試比較:
a.The house comprises five rooms.(房間)
There is much room for improvement in our work.(余地)
b.China is a great socialist country.(國家)
It is very good country for growing rice.(地方)
c.I am going to move to a new house.(房子)
She keeps house for his uncle.(管家)
(7)英語中表示動(dòng)物名稱的名詞是可數(shù)名詞,而用來表示它們的肉時(shí)則是不可數(shù)名詞。
a.I saw two little lambs.
I like to eat New Zealand lamb very much.
b.I caught two fish yesterday afternoon.
I like fish very much.
c.Don't count your chickens before they are hatched.
Do you like boiled chicken?
英語中有些動(dòng)物名稱和它們?nèi)獾拿Q的名詞不是同一個(gè)詞,但也適用這一規(guī)律,如cow(牛),beef(牛肉),sheep(羊),mutton(羊肉),pig(豬),pork(豬肉)。
(8)英語中用來表示物體的名稱是可數(shù)名詞,但用來表示該物體的物質(zhì)名詞則是不可數(shù)名詞。
a.There is a huge pine in front of my house.
This box is made of pine.
b.I had an egg for my breakfast today.
Egg is my favourite dish.
(9)表示時(shí)間的名詞,如day,morning,noon,night等,如果用來指天色,表示抽象的概念,不表示一天中的各段時(shí)間,用作不可數(shù)名詞。
a.Morning is the best time for study.
b.Night falls.
c.When our part of the earth begins to turn away from thesun,wehave afternoon and evening and night.
此外,如果在單數(shù)可數(shù)名詞前加上too much或too little時(shí),可數(shù)名詞則用作不可數(shù)名詞,表示抽象意義。
d.He has too much family.他家務(wù)太重。
e.He seems to have too much mouth and too little ear.
似乎他自己講得多,聽別人的意見少。
(10)名詞復(fù)數(shù)的不可數(shù)性
一般,只有可數(shù)名詞才有復(fù)數(shù),但也有一些復(fù)數(shù)形式是不可數(shù)
的,如:He used to sleep in my rooms when he came totown.這里rooms雖指一間以上的房間,但把各房間的總和看作一個(gè)單位,而并不指每
一房間,to sleep in my rooms當(dāng)然不是說同時(shí)睡在多個(gè)房間。
All+多數(shù)普通名詞結(jié)構(gòu):
a.I am all ears to hear their discussion.我很留意他們的討論。
b.At the magic show the children were all eyes.
孩子們目不轉(zhuǎn)睛地觀看魔術(shù)表演。
這種結(jié)構(gòu)表示性質(zhì)到了極點(diǎn)。在該結(jié)構(gòu)中,名詞復(fù)數(shù)并不表示具體的兩只耳朵、兩只眼睛,而表示抽象概念,具有不可數(shù)性質(zhì),注意all不可改為both。還有一些名詞,特別是與“婚喪、喜慶”有關(guān)的名詞常用復(fù)數(shù),但它們并不可數(shù)。
a.Congratulations!
b.Please give my best regards to your father.
c.We all filed past to pay our last respects to the remains ofLao Li.
6.不可數(shù)名詞誤用為可數(shù)名詞
誤:The passenger has left two baggages in the train.
正:two pieces of baggage
誤:He gave me many good advices.
正:much good advice
有些名詞容易被理解為可數(shù)名詞,而實(shí)際上是不可數(shù)的,如work,news,chalk,paper,luggage,baggage,advice,fortune,weather,prose,china(瓷器),information,soap,toothpeste,property,homework,music,equipment,bread,toast,hearsay,fun,luck,clothing,merchandise,food等,如欲加上數(shù)的觀念時(shí),應(yīng)加a piece of,an article of,a stroke of等等。
a.A wardrope is a piece of furniture.
b.She has bought a new article of clothing.
c.Man needs various kinds of food.
d.Two articles of merchandise were lost in the store.
e.What a stroke of luck I have!
其他例子
(1)誤:There is still a room for improvement.
正:room
room作“余地、空間”解時(shí)為不可數(shù)名詞。下列幾句也是錯(cuò)的,須去掉其中的不定冠詞。
a.You are a great fun.
b.We have a good weather today.
c.It is a great luck to meet you here.
d.The child can be a good company for me.
(2)誤:I have a good news to tell you.
正:good news
news只可作不可數(shù)名詞,其前可以用a piece/item/bit of,some/little/much修飾,如 apiece of bread,a piece of equipment,a piece of jew-elry,a shert ofpaper,a cake of soap,a bottle of ink,all ear of corn,an ar-ticle offurniture。
(3)誤:He has recently found a work at bank.
正:a job
work當(dāng)“工作、職業(yè)”解時(shí),為不可數(shù)名詞,work的復(fù)數(shù)形式可用于以下情形:
①復(fù)數(shù)形式既可用作單數(shù),也可用作復(fù)數(shù),當(dāng)“工廠”解。
a.This works is the biggest factory in the city.
b.Those are chemical works.
②復(fù)數(shù)形式用作復(fù)數(shù):
當(dāng)“著作”解,如the works of Shakespeare。
當(dāng)“工程、工事’解,如defence works。
當(dāng)“奇跡”解,如 might works。
(4)誤:He wrote with a chalk.
正:a piece of chalk
chalk是不可數(shù)名詞,但當(dāng)它指“各種粉筆”時(shí),也可以有復(fù)數(shù)形式 chalks。
(5)誤:Could you give me a paper to write the address on?
正:a piece of paper
paper表示“紙”時(shí)為不可數(shù)名詞,但它表示“文件、考卷、報(bào)紙”時(shí)為可數(shù)名詞。
(6)誤:You have such a good fortune.
正:a piece of good fortune
fortune指“運(yùn)氣”時(shí)為不可數(shù)名詞,但表示“財(cái)富、財(cái)產(chǎn)”時(shí)為可數(shù)名詞,如:She has made afortune.
(7)誤:It's not good to go out in such a bad weather.
正:bad weather
weather是不可數(shù)名詞,但在某些習(xí)慣用語中,它常以復(fù)數(shù)形式出現(xiàn),如 under allweathers(不論天氣如何),in all weathers(不管某人命運(yùn))。
(8)誤:Professor White asked me to write a prose.
正:a piece of prose
prose表示“散文”時(shí),為不可數(shù)名詞,但可用 in a prose表示“用散文形式寫”。
(9)誤:It's only a hearsay that the chairman is going toresign.
正:It's only hearsay
(10)誤:The used car was in a good condition.
正:in good condition
condition指情況、健康情形時(shí),為不可數(shù)名詞,但指環(huán)境或條件時(shí),常作可數(shù)名詞。
a.Being a good skater is one of the conditions for getting onthe hock-ey team.作一個(gè)好的溜冰者是進(jìn)入曲棍隊(duì)的條件之一。
b.Poor working conditions caused the employees to go onstrike.
惡劣的工作環(huán)境使員工們罷工。
(11)誤:Where are your baggages?
正:Where is your baggage?
(12)誤:How many luggages do you have?
正:How much luggage
(13)誤:The old often give good advices to the young.
正:advice
advice是不可數(shù)名詞,須用 a piece of或 two/four/many piecesofadvice。當(dāng)advice指“從遠(yuǎn)處來的消息”,尤指“商業(yè)信息”時(shí),有復(fù)數(shù)形式advices。advice為名詞,相應(yīng)的動(dòng)詞為advise。
(14)誤:He obtained many informations from his friends in thatgov-ernment agency.
正:a lot of information
(15)誤:I have ordered new furnitures for the office.
正:furniture
(16)誤:He checked in his luggages at the airport.
正:luggage
baggage和luggage一樣,都做“行李”解,這兩個(gè)詞都是不可數(shù)名詞,不能用復(fù)數(shù):Where is yourbaggage?假如說到行李的件數(shù),則是apiece of luggage/baggage,two/three…pieces ofluggage/baggage,這兩詞區(qū)別是luggage是旅客的一般行李,baggage則是笨重的行李,如軍隊(duì)的行李。
(17)誤:The typhoon did many damages to the growing rice.
正:much damage
damage指“損害”時(shí)為不可數(shù)名詞。當(dāng)它指“損害賠償”時(shí),為可數(shù)名詞:The insurance companyrefused to pay him damages.
(18)誤:He is a man of noble characters.
正:character
character作“品格”解時(shí),只能用單數(shù)形式,為不可數(shù)名詞。若character當(dāng)書中或戲中的“人物、角色”解或指象中文中的“漢字”解時(shí),為可數(shù)名詞:ManyAmericans speak Mandarin fairly well,but theyfind it difficult torecognize the characters.
(19)誤:I had my hairs cut yesterday afternoon.
正:hair
hair泛指頭發(fā)時(shí)通常作不可數(shù)名詞,但說到幾根頭發(fā)時(shí),卻可用hairs:There are two white hairs onhis coat.
(20)誤:She had to make a choice between love and breads.
正:bread
bread是不可數(shù)名詞,如要說一片面包要用 a piece of bread,一條面包要說 a loaf ofbread。bread and butter(涂奶油的面包)應(yīng)當(dāng)作一個(gè)詞看待,要用單數(shù):Here is bread andbutter.
(21)誤:Is it good to eat some fruits after lunch.
正:fruit
fruit通指水果時(shí),常作不可數(shù)名詞,但當(dāng)它表示各種不同的水果時(shí),可用復(fù)數(shù):Taiwan producesbanana,oranges and other fruits.
(22)誤:Tooth decay is the most common disease of humanities.
正:humanity
當(dāng)humanity泛指“人類”時(shí),為不可數(shù)名詞,當(dāng)humanities指“人文學(xué)科”(studies such asliterature,the languages of ancient GreeceandRome,history,etc.)時(shí),為可數(shù)名詞,常以復(fù)數(shù)形式出現(xiàn)。
(23)誤:A refrigerator is a property.
正:a piece of property
property表示“財(cái)產(chǎn)”時(shí)是不可數(shù)名詞,但它表示“地產(chǎn)”時(shí)是可數(shù)名詞:He has a property in thecountry.
(24)誤:Please give me a buttered-toast.
正:a slice of buttered-toast
toast表示“烤面包”時(shí)是不可數(shù)名詞,但在 as warm as a toast(暖烘烘的)中的 a toast不可改為 apiece of toast。另外,在表示“祝酒”或“干杯”時(shí),toast是可數(shù)名詞:Let's drink atoast!干杯!
另外,表示“總稱”或“集合體”的名詞沒有復(fù)數(shù)形式,常見的有:machinery,vocabulary,stationery,scenery,jewellery,clothing,furniture,poetry,cutlery,porcelain,hardware,artillery,mail等等。
(25)誤:The workers have installed a lot of machineries.
正:machinery
表示“一臺(tái)機(jī)器”可用a piece of machinery或a machine。
(26)誤:Mr.Li has five thousand vocabularies.
正:a vocabulary of five thousand words
一個(gè)人或一種語言只可能有其固定詞匯量,所以vocabulary應(yīng)為單數(shù)。
(27)誤I bought a lot of stationeries last semester.
正:stationery
(28)誤:Do you like such a scenery?
正:scenery/a scene
(29)誤:Do you like reading poetries?
正:poetry/poems
說“一首詩”用a piece of poetry或a poem。
(30)誤:We are going to buy some porcelains.
正:porcelain
porcelain是瓷器的總稱,不可變?yōu)閺?fù)數(shù)。說“一件瓷器”用 a pieceof porcelain,如 a spoon,abowl,a cup等。
(31)誤:That business man deals in hardwares.
正:hardware
hardware是集體名詞,不可變?yōu)閺?fù)數(shù),說“一件五金器具”用apiece of hardware,如 a pen,anail,a lock等。
(32)誤:Our soldiers captured ten artilleries.
正:ten pieces of artillery
artillery是大炮的總稱,為不可數(shù)名詞,如要說“一門大炮”需要用 a piece of artillery或 acannon。
(33)誤:We asked the postman to forward our mails.
正:mail
mail是不可數(shù)名詞,它常和the或物主代詞連用,表示一批郵件,如說“一件郵件”要用a piece ofmail,但表示各種郵件時(shí),mail可有復(fù)數(shù)形式:The ship sank and the mails were lost.
(34)誤:The crossbow is a medieval weaponry built in such a way astogive it greater strength than an ordinary bow.
正:weapon
weaponry是不可數(shù)名詞,在意義上等于weapons,為武器的總稱,如指一件武器應(yīng)用 a piece ofweaponry或 a weapon,相應(yīng)的還有poet-ry,poem,jewelry,jewel,clothing,garment。
7.可數(shù)名詞誤用為不可數(shù)名詞
誤:Our school was burned to ash.
正:ashes
英語中有些可數(shù)名詞在漢語意思上習(xí)慣被誤解為不可數(shù)名詞,或某些不可數(shù)名詞在慣用法和特定條件下用作可數(shù)名詞。如:beburned/reducedto ashes(被燒為灰燼)為慣用語,其中ash用復(fù)數(shù)形式。
其他例子:
(1)誤:I saw an old man with long beard walk into the house.
正:with a long beard
beard是一可數(shù)名詞,若指某人的一把胡子時(shí)要用不定冠詞。說人的胡子時(shí)可有復(fù)數(shù)形式:
a.Men and goats have beards.
b.He no longer wears a beard.
hair卻不同于beard,hair指一頭頭發(fā)時(shí)為不可數(shù)名詞,而指一根或幾根頭發(fā)時(shí)為可數(shù)名詞,如find a hair inthe soup。
c.My hair has grown very long.
d.Ten years passed;I found she had a few white hairs.
此外,一些文學(xué)作品中表示非常之多的不可數(shù)物質(zhì)名詞也常有復(fù)數(shù)形式,如 the sands of the desert,thesnows and frosts of the Antac-tics,waters of the East Lake。
(2)誤:He described his wild experience in many foreigncountries.
正:experiences
experience指“something that happens to one”(個(gè)人體驗(yàn)的事情)時(shí),用作可數(shù)名詞。
(3)誤:Meat,eggs and nuts are food that is high in protein.
正:foods
指多種食物時(shí),必須用foods;泛指一般的食物時(shí),則以food表示:They asked for food.
(4)誤:All his belonging was damaged by fire.
正:All his belogings were
belonging指“所有物、財(cái)產(chǎn)”時(shí)常用復(fù)數(shù)形式。
(5)誤:They tried to save their life.
正:lives
life表示“生命”時(shí),為可數(shù)名詞,其復(fù)數(shù)形式是lives。
(6)誤:Give our best regard to professor Miller.
正:regards
regard作“問候”解時(shí),常以復(fù)數(shù)形式出現(xiàn)。
(7)誤:The children were waiting for their turn to ride in aneigh-teenthcentury stage coach.
正:turns
turn在本句中為可數(shù)名詞。注意下列短語中turn的單復(fù)數(shù)用法:in one's turn(依次),in turn(輪流),byturns(輪流),take turns(輪流)。
(8)誤:Our wage is getting higher.
正:Our wages are
wage(工資)一般為可數(shù)名詞,常作復(fù)數(shù)。
8.可數(shù)名詞單復(fù)數(shù)形式的誤用
誤:The aircraft carrier is carrying two aircrafts on theboard.
正:aircraft
有些可數(shù)名詞單復(fù)數(shù)形式常易發(fā)生錯(cuò)誤,aircraft是單復(fù)數(shù)同形的集合名詞,on board意為“在船上”。
其他例子:
(1)誤:American withdrew from Vietnam.
正:Americans
American為可數(shù)名詞,應(yīng)加冠詞或加-s表示。本句表示許多美國人,故用復(fù)數(shù)形式Americans。
各國人單復(fù)數(shù)形式有相同的,也有不相同的,現(xiàn)將一些較大國家的人的單數(shù)、復(fù)數(shù)和全體的表示方法列表如下:
單數(shù)復(fù)數(shù)全體
ChineseChinesethe Chinese
EnglishmanEnglishmenthe English
AmericanAmericansthe Americans
FrenchmanFrenchmenthe French
RussianRrssiansthe Russians
ItalianItaliansthe Italians
JapaneseJapanesethe Japanese
GermanGermansthe Germans
IndianIndiansthe Indians
KoreanKoreansthe Koreans
PortuguesePortuguesethe Portuguese
SpaniardSpaniardsthe Spaniards
Dutchman(荷蘭人)Dutchmenthe Dutch
HollanderHollandersthe Dutch
GreekGreeksthe Greeks
SwissSwissthe Swiss
DaneDanesthe Danes
SwedeSwedesthe Swedes
NorwegianNorwegiansthe Norwegians
EgyptianEgyptiansthe Egyptians
TurkTurksthe Turks
(2)誤:There were a huge audiences at that concert.
正:audience
audience,crowd,family,class等都為集合名詞,一般沒有復(fù)數(shù)形式。若指一個(gè)集體時(shí),常加單數(shù)動(dòng)詞,若強(qiáng)調(diào)每個(gè)成員時(shí),接復(fù)數(shù)動(dòng)詞。必須注意families(許多家庭),classes(許多班級(jí))的意思與上述不一樣。
(3)誤:Carps are expensive here.
正:Carp
carp作集合名詞用,表示所有的鯉魚。表示兩種或兩種以上不同的鯉魚時(shí),用carps。
(4)誤:Two Chineses and one Italian were there.
正:Two Chinese
Chinese,Japanese,Swiss等均為單復(fù)數(shù)同形。
(5)誤:I made a friend with a young lady.
正:friends
make/keep friends with為慣用語,形成 friend的關(guān)系要靠雙方。
a.He is great friends with me.他和我很要好。
b.He is a friend of mine.他是我的一個(gè)好朋友。
(6)誤:Somebody's scissor is under my desk.
正:somebody's scissors are
scissor的組成有兩部分,故用復(fù)數(shù)形式,常見的有:chopsticks,glasses,socks,stockings。
(7)誤:Your cloth is a perfect fit.
正:Your clothes are
colthes指“衣服、服裝”,作復(fù)數(shù)用,而cloth是不可數(shù)名詞,指“做衣服的布料”。
(8)誤:Rain and snow are a phenomenon of the weather.
正:phenomena
rain,snow分別為天氣的現(xiàn)象,故不能用單數(shù)形式。
(9)誤:The boy took a great pain to assemble the model airplaneneat-ly.
正:great pains
take pains(費(fèi)力、努力)為慣用語,注意要用pains。
(10)誤:Her dress is extremely behind the time.
正:behind the times
behind the times意為“落伍”,是慣用語,behind time意為“遲了,晚了”:My watch isfive minutes behind time.a(chǎn)t times意為“偶爾,有時(shí)”,all thetime意為“一直、始終”。當(dāng)time指某一特定時(shí)間或時(shí)期時(shí),用單數(shù);in Lincoln's time,at Christmastime。
(11)誤:The universitry president shook hand with the visitors onebyone.
正:hands
握手也是出自雙方的動(dòng)作,hand習(xí)慣用復(fù)數(shù),與此有關(guān)的習(xí)慣用語也大多用復(fù)數(shù),如 by the hands of(經(jīng)…之手),inthe hands of(交托給),on one's hands(由…負(fù)責(zé)照管),lay hands on(抓?。?,washone'shands of(洗手不干),還應(yīng)注意:make up one's minds(下決心),ex-changelessons(互教互學(xué)),join hands(聯(lián)手),change hands(轉(zhuǎn)手、易手)等習(xí)慣用語。
(12)誤:I just bought a trouser.
正:a pair of trousers
注意許多由雙邊、多邊或幾個(gè)部分組成的物體名詞要用復(fù)數(shù)形式,如:breeches,scissors,shears.knickers,pants,shorts,drawers,clothes,pyjamas,pliers,pincers等,這類名詞還常和a pair of等連用。但當(dāng)這些名詞用作定語時(shí)要用單數(shù),如 a trouser leg,a card table等。
(13)誤:His speech was highly spoken by a large number ofaudience.
正:a large audience
andience指聽眾或觀眾的整體,可以用作單數(shù),也可用作復(fù)數(shù):The audience were/was enjoyingevery minute of the show.它不能用來指單個(gè)的人,因而只能用 a large audience表示“聽眾多”,用a smallandience表示“聽眾少”,a large number of audiences表示“許多批聽眾”。
愛華網(wǎng)


