表達(dá)數(shù)目與數(shù)量的特別方法

字號(hào):

大家知道,不可數(shù)名詞沒有表示復(fù)數(shù)的“-s”標(biāo)志,因此前面不可有數(shù)目字,只可以有數(shù)量詞。例如我們可以說①,不可以說②:
    ① There is not much furniture in the office.
    ② There are not many furnitures in the office.
    這是不是說不可數(shù)名詞就不可數(shù)呢?不然。相反的,不可數(shù)名詞也是可數(shù)的,主要方法是借重單位詞(unit word),如:
    a piece of,a cup of,a drop of,a lump of,a handful of,a flash of,a blade of,a head of,a bar of,an ear of等。
    如果數(shù)目是超過“一”,就以確實(shí)數(shù)目取代“一”。例如:
    two pieces of,three cups of 和 five lumps of 等。
    現(xiàn)在試試把上述這類單位詞和適當(dāng)?shù)牟豢蓴?shù)名詞連用。
    ① Mr Li has just bought a piece of new furniture.
    ② Give me a cup of cold water,please.
    ③ Please put two lumps of sugar in my coffee.
    ④ The boy picked up two handfuls of sand from the beach.
    ⑤ We saw a flash of lightning in the sky.
    ⑥ The gardener pulled out blades of wild grass from the garden.
    ⑦ She gave bars of chocolate to the visiting children.
    有些名詞如 scissors,trousers,spectacles,tongs,pliers 等,都以復(fù)數(shù)形式出現(xiàn),如:
    ⑧ The scissors are lying on the table.
    ⑨ The spectacles fit me nicely.
    如果要給這些名詞表示單數(shù)“一”的意思,就要借重單位詞了。例如:
    ⑩ Mary has just bought a pair of scissors.
    (11) The mechanic repaired the machine with a set of pliers.
    現(xiàn)代英語注重簡(jiǎn)潔,合成形容詞便應(yīng)運(yùn)而生,其中有一種是用來表示數(shù)目的,方法是:
    “數(shù)目 名詞”,如:a five-year plan,a ten-dollar note,a two-hour meeting,a three-day conference等。
    必須注意的是,這種合成形容詞中的名詞,只能以單數(shù)形式出現(xiàn)。如果用復(fù)數(shù),就錯(cuò)了,如:
    a five-years plan,a ten-dollars note,a two-hours meeting,a three-days conference.
    這類錯(cuò)誤,雖然頻率不是很高,但也是要留意才好。
    如果沒有把握,不妨用完整的表達(dá)方式,如:
    a five-year plan→a plan of five years
    a ten-dollar note→a note of ten dollars
    a three-day conference→a conference of three days 等。