我们现在简单地讨论一下不可数名词的度量问题。
一、不可数名词与量词
虽然我们不能用具体的数字(比如one,two,three,four)来表示不可数名词的数量,但我们可以借用量词来表示其量的概念。不同类型的不可数名词所使用的量词也不一样,一般的规则如下:
1.常用piece修饰以下抽象名词和物质名词
比如这些名词:advice,bread,baggage,chalk,equipment,furniture,information,jewelry,luggage,music和news等。例如:
a piece of news(一条消息)
two pieces of news(两条消息)
several pieces of furniture(几件家具)
three pieces of luggage(三件行李)
2.用bottle,cup,drop和glass修饰液态物质
比如这些名词:beer,blood,coffee,milk,tea,water和wine等。例如:
several drops of blood(几滴血)
a glass of milk(一杯牛奶)
two glasses of wine(两杯葡萄酒)
two cups of coffee(两杯咖啡)
3.其他的量词
还有其他的量词修饰关系,比如:
a loaf of bread(一长条面包)
a tube of toothpaste(一管牙膏)
a slice of meat(一片肉)
二、不可数名词不能被a(n)修饰
除了能被量词修饰以外,不可数名词一般不能直接被不定冠词a/an修饰。比如“一条消息”不能说成a news*,“一个建议”不能说成an advice*,“一个好天气”不能说成a nice weather*,“一件家具”不能说成a furniture*等等。
三、不可数名词不能被基数词修饰
可数名词因为可以数出具体的数目,因而可以被基数词修饰,比如说one book或two books等。不可数名词因为不能数出具体的数目,因而不可以被基数词修饰,比如“两条消息”不能说成two news*,“五件家具”不能说成five furnitures*等等。
关于可数名词与不可数名词被限定词修饰的搭配关系,我们将在第二章和第三章中详细讨论。
本节内容是名词一章的重点。首先对不可数名词进行了五组分类,然后提出了名词可数性的“相对论”,即名词的可数性重在词义,与其使用的语境有关,意义和语境的不同会导致名词的可数性不同。本节还详细总结出可数与不可数之间转化的三大规律,进而告诫读者不能完全按照汉语的逻辑思维来理解英语的可数与不可数的概念。
此外要注意,掌握好名词的可数与不可数,也为第三章讨论名词与数量限定词的修饰关系奠定了基础。
选择最佳答案填空。
1.Did you hear______just now?
A.a noise
B.noise
2.I can’t work here.There’s too______.
A.many noises
B.much noise
3.If you want to know the news in detail,you can buy______to read.
A.a paper
B.paper
4.I need some______to write on.
A.a paper
B.paper
5.There is______in my soup!
A.hair
B.a hair
C.hairs
6.These boys need to have their______cut.
A.hair
B.hairs
7.I don’t like wearing______.
A.a long hair
B.long hair
C.long hairs
8.I can find some white______on your head.
A.hair
B.hairs
9.You can put up here tonight.We have______.
A.a spare room
B.spare room
10.There is______for 10,000 people to sit in this auditorium.
A.a room
B.room
11.More______will have to be made on the program for these performers.
A.rooms
B.room
12.I thought there was somebody in the house because there was______on inside.
A.a light
B.light
13.______comes from the sun.
A.A light
B.Light
14.I had some interesting______during the journey.
A.experiences
B.experience
15.He gained______in dealing with such people.
A.experience
B.experiences
16.They offered me the job because I had a lot of______.
A.experiences
B.experience
17.I have______to do.
A.a lot of work
B.a lot of works
18.Jane studies very hard in order to gain more______.
A.knowledge
B.knowledges
19.I opened the letter and it contained______.
A.an important information
B.an important piece of information
20.There are several______in this hall.
A.furnitures
B.pieces of furniture
21.Can you give me any______on this matter?
A.advice
B.advices
22.The streets are crowded with______.
A.traffics
B.traffic
23.Warm______is comfortable in winter.
A.clothings
B.clothing