初中英語學習重點之集合名詞
第一類 形式為單數(shù),但意義可以用為單數(shù)或復數(shù)
這類集合名詞包括family(家庭),team(隊),class(班),audience(聽眾)等,其用法特點為:若視為整體,表示單數(shù)意義;若考慮其個體成員,表示復數(shù)意義。比較并體會:
His family is large. 他的家是個大家庭。
His family are all waiting for him. 他的一家人都在等他。
This class consists of 45 pupils. 這個班由45個學生組成。
This class are reading English now. 這個班的學生在讀英語。
第二類 形式為單數(shù),但意義永遠為復數(shù)
這類集合名詞包括cattle(牛,牲畜),people(人),police(警察)等,其用法特點為:只有單數(shù)形式, 但卻表示復數(shù)意義,用作主語時謂語用復數(shù);不與 a(n) 連用,但可與the連用(表示總括意義和特指)。如:
People will laugh at you. 人們會笑你的。
The police are looking for him. 警察在找他。
Many cattle were killed for this. 就因為這個原因宰了不少牲畜。
注:表示牲畜的頭數(shù),用單位詞 head(單復數(shù)同形)。如:
five head of cattle 5頭牛,fifty (head of ) cattle 50頭牛
第三類 形式為復數(shù),意義也為復數(shù)
這類集合名詞包括goods(貨物), clothes(衣服)等,其用法特點是:只有復數(shù)形式(當然也表示復數(shù)意義,用作主語時謂語也用復數(shù)),但通常不與數(shù)詞連用。如:
Clothes dry slowly in the rainy season. 衣服在雨季不易干。
Such clothes are very expensive. 那樣的衣服很貴。
If goods are not well made you should complain to the manufacturer. 如果貨物質(zhì)量不好,則理應向制造商提出控訴。