三類英語集合名詞的用法規(guī)律
集合名詞(英語:Collective noun)是語言學(xué)上的一個專有名詞,意指一種可用來指稱一群對象的字,而這些對象,可以是人、動物、或是一群概念等事物。
三類集合名詞的用法規(guī)律
一、集合名詞表示整體和個體的問題
英語中有些集合名詞,既可表單數(shù)意義,也可表復(fù)數(shù)意義,其原則是:若視為整體,表示單數(shù)意義;若考慮其個體成員,表示復(fù)數(shù)意義。這類集合名詞比較常見的有:army(軍隊),audience(觀眾),committee(委員會),crew(全體船員,全體乘務(wù)員,全體工作人員),enemy(敵人),family(家人),government(政府),group(一組,一群),public(公眾),staff(全體職工,全體人員),team(隊)等。比較:
My family is very large [big]. 我家是大家庭。
My family are all very well. 我家里人都很好。
Which team is the best? 哪個隊打得最好?
The football team are having a rest. 足球隊隊員們在休息。
The crew is large. 工作人員眾多。
The crew of the plane are ten in all. 這架飛機的機組人員一共10人。
有時句子中帶有明顯的單數(shù)或復(fù)數(shù)標(biāo)志,則應(yīng)分別按單數(shù)或復(fù)數(shù)處理。如:
The public is the best judge.=The public are the best judges. 公眾是最好的判斷者。
如果句子沒有特定的上下文,有時既可當(dāng)作整體看待(即視為單數(shù)),也可當(dāng)作個體看待(即視為復(fù)數(shù))。如:
The enemy was [were] forced to retreat. 敵人被迫撤退。
The school’s teaching staff is [are] excellent. 學(xué)校師資很不錯。
The army was [were] called out to enforce the curfew. 軍隊被派去強制執(zhí)行宵禁。
Our discussion group is [are] meeting this week. 我們的討論小組本周開會。
The Government is [are] planning new tax increases. 政府正在制定新的增稅方案。
The audience is [are] always very excited by a wonderful goal. 一個精彩的進球總會使觀眾們非常激動。
The committee who were [which was] responsible for this decision would consider it over again. 對這一決定負(fù)責(zé)的委員會是會重新考慮它的。
二、用復(fù)數(shù)形式表示復(fù)數(shù)意義的集合名詞
goods(貨物), clothes(衣服)等,其用法特點是:只有復(fù)數(shù)形式(當(dāng)然也表示復(fù)數(shù)意義,用作主語時謂語也用復(fù)數(shù)),但通常不與數(shù)詞連用。如:
Such clothes are very expensive. 那樣的衣服很貴。
To whom do these goods belong? 這些書是誰的?
三、永遠(yuǎn)不可數(shù)的集合名詞
英語中有些名詞是永遠(yuǎn)不可數(shù)的,這類詞在中學(xué)英語也不少,但真正??疾⑶胰菀壮鲥e的則不多,比較常見的:baggage / luggage(行李), clothing(衣服), furniture(家具), machinery(機器), poetry(詩), scenery(風(fēng)景), jewelry(珠寶),equipment(設(shè)備)等, 其用法特點為:是不可數(shù)名詞,只用單數(shù)形式,不用不定冠詞(當(dāng)然更不能用數(shù)詞),沒有復(fù)數(shù)形式。如:
Our clothing protects us from [against] the cold. 我們的衣服可以御寒。
Have you checked all your baggage? 你所有行李都托運了嗎?
注意,machinery, poetry, jewelry, scenery 相應(yīng)的個體可數(shù)名詞是 machine, poem, jewel, scene。如:
a poem / a piece of poetry 一首詩
many machines / much machinery / many pieces of machinery 許多機器