headquarters vs. headquarter單數(shù)還是復(fù)數(shù)

字號(hào):

headquarters 到底是單數(shù)還是復(fù)數(shù)呢?它后面的動(dòng)詞到底該怎么用?似是而非的單復(fù)數(shù)變化總是讓你暈頭轉(zhuǎn)向。讓我來(lái)幫你擦亮眼吧!
    headquarters這個(gè)詞打眼一看,真像是一個(gè)復(fù)數(shù)形式,因?yàn)榧恿恕皊”嘛。但實(shí)際上,headquarters是個(gè)單數(shù)名詞,只是以“s”結(jié)尾,意思是公司的總部。例如:
    I'm going to headquarters this weekend to meet with the CEO.
    我這個(gè)周末要去總部見(jiàn)CEO。
    headquarters后面既可以接單數(shù)動(dòng)詞,也可以接復(fù)數(shù)動(dòng)詞,但是復(fù)數(shù)更為常用。例如:
    The headquarters of Microsoft are in America.
    微軟的總部設(shè)在美國(guó)。
    但是,當(dāng)headquarters所指代的是一種權(quán)威而不是指“總部”所在的地方時(shí),常常接單數(shù)動(dòng)詞。例如:
    The headquarters has approved to donate $3,000 to charity.
    總部已經(jīng)同意向慈善機(jī)構(gòu)捐款3000美元。
    如果你漏掉了“s”,不要以為“沒(méi)關(guān)系,不會(huì)產(chǎn)生歧義”。沒(méi)有了“s”的headquarter可不再是名詞了,而是一個(gè)動(dòng)詞,是“提供給總部,建立總部”的意思。例如:
    The new company will headquarter in Paris.
    新公司會(huì)將總部設(shè)在巴黎。
    The Texas Oil Company is headquartered in White Plains, New York, but its name is derived from the state of Texas.
    德克薩斯石油公司的總部設(shè)在紐約的懷特普萊恩斯,公司的名字卻來(lái)自德克薩斯這個(gè)州名。