-(e)s词尾的读音方法如下:
位于词尾的-th 原读作/θ/,加复数词尾后都读作/ð/,如:
mouth/mauθ/—mouths/mauðz/
path/paːθ/—paths/paːðz/
但在有些情况下加复数词尾后-th 的读音不变,如:
month/mʌnθ/—months/mʌnθs/
length/leŋθ/—lengths/leŋθs/
在个别情况下-th 的读音可变可不变,如:
youth/juːθ/—youths/juːθs/ 或/juːðz/
truth/truːθ/—truths/truːθs/ 或/truiðz/
echo—echoes
tomato—tomatoes
hero—heroes
torpedo—torpedoes
mosquito—mosquitoes
domino—dominoes
potato—potatoes
veto—vetoes
但下面几类词的复数形式却只加-s:
bamboos folios
radios cuckoos
kangaroos studios
zoos embryos
oratorios taboos
banjos concertos
pianos cellos
manifestos sopranos
commandos mottos
tobaccos
kilos photos
memos micros
Eskimos Filipinos
还有下面这些词可加-s或-es构成复数形式:
cargo(e)s
halo(e)s
archipelago(e)s
有些词结尾只加-s(读作/fs/)即可:
roofs cliffs proofs beliefs chiefs
也有几个词结尾可加-s或-es:
scarf—scarves或scarfs
dwarf—dwarves或dwarfs
wharf—wharves或wharfs
hoof—hooves或hoofs
handkerchief—handkerchieves 或 handkerchiefs
man—men
woman—women
tooth—teeth
foot—feet
child—children
goose—geese
mouse—mice
ox—oxen
louse—lice
policeman—policemen
policewoman—policewomen
penny有两种复数形式:
pennies指硬币:I only have a few pennies with me. 我身上只有几个便士。
pence指价格:Tomatoes are 30 pence a pound. 西红柿卖30便士一磅。
stratum—strata(阶层)
analysis—analyses/-si:z/(分析)
criterion—criteria(标准)
phenomenon—phenomena(现象)
thesis—theses/-si:z/(论文)
basis—bases/-si:z/(基础)
crisis—crises/-si:z/(危机)
medium—media(媒体)
一些外来词有两种复数形式,即原来的复数形式和英语化的复数形式:
还有少数外来词已完全英语化,以加-s或-es的方式构成复数形式:
genius—geniuses album—albums apparatus—apparatuses
多数合成词以在末尾加-(e)s的方式构成复数形式:
girlfriends letter-boxes
grown-ups touch-me-nots
有少数合成词把-(e)s词尾加在主体词后:
sons-in-law editors-in-chief
lookers-on runners-up
attorneys general
courts-martial notaries public
某些由man, woman构成的合成词,两部分都要变作复数:
a man student—men students
a woman doctor—women doctors
但也有例外:
policeman—policemen
policewoman—policewomen
houseboy—houseboys
chorus girl—chorus girls
还有一些其他的复数形式,如:
a. 年份加-s或’s:
the 1670s(或1670’s)(十七世纪)七十年代
b. 缩写词加-s(小写):
VIPs(very important persons;贵宾们)
MPs(members of parliament;国会议员们)
c. 英语字母等加’s:
Mind your b’s and d’s. 注意你的b和d的写法。
“Banana”has three a’s and two n’s. banana一词中有三个a和两个n。
常见的单复同形的名词有:
a. 某些动物的名称:
b. craft及由craft构成的词:
craft(船)
aircraft(飞机)
hovercraft(气垫船)
spacecraft(宇宙飞船)
c. 表示某国人的名词:
d. 还有其他一些单复同形的名词:
This rare bird has become an endangered species. 这种珍禽已成为濒临灭绝的物种。
There are over 200 species of fish. 这里有两百多个品种的鱼。
The quickest means of travel is by plane. 最快的交通工具是飞机。
Radio and television are important means of communication. 无线电和电视是重要的通信手段。
She’s the offspring of a scientist and a musician. 她是一位科学家和一位音乐家的后代。
How do parents pass genes on to their offspring? 父母是怎样把基因遗传给后代的?
fruit通常作总称或集体名词,没有复数形式:
I like fruit and vegetables. 我喜欢水果和蔬菜。
This pudding has two pounds of fresh fruit in it. 这个布丁里有两磅鲜果。
它在表示某种水果时可有复数形式:
The potato is a vegetable, not a fruit. 马铃薯是一种蔬菜,不是一种水果。
The country exports tropical fruits. 该国出口热带水果。
它在用作抽象概念或比喻义时也可有复数形式:
They enjoy the fruits of their hard labor. 他们享受自己辛勤努力的成果。
hair通常作单数,是头发或动物毛发的总称:
She was slender and had long dark hair. 她身材苗条,有一头长长的黑发。
My hair has grown very long. 我的头发长得很长了。
但它在表示一根头发或毛时可有复数形式,用作可数名词:
There are a few hairs in the book. 书里有几根头发。
He had a few grey hairs. 他有几根灰白色的头发。
fish通常是单复同形的:
He caught a big(several)fish. 他捕了一条大鱼(几条鱼)。
但它也可有复数形式,表示“几条鱼”或“几种鱼”:
We caught three little fishes. 我们捕到了三条小鱼。
There were fishes of many hues and sizes. 这里有各种颜色、各种大小的鱼。
The herring(herrings)usually live in large shoals. 鲱鱼通常生活在大的浅水区。
Zebra(Zebras)are a more difficult prey. 斑马是一种较难捕获的猎物。
另有一些带-s词尾的词,通常用作单数:
The accident took place at a crossroads. 事故发生在一个十字路口。
The business cycle is a series of peaks and troughs. 商业周期总是淡旺期交替。
a. binoculars(双筒望远镜),braces(背带),briefs(三角裤),compasses(圆规),cords(灯芯绒裤),ear-phones(耳机),glasses(spectacles)(眼镜),jeans(牛仔裤),knickers(短衬裤),nail-dippers(指甲刀),overalls(工装服),pants(裤子),pliers(钳子),pyjamas(睡衣裤),scales(天平),scissors(剪刀),shorts(短裤),slacks(便装裤),sunglasses(太阳镜),tights(紧身衣),tongs(钳子),trousers(裤子),trunks(游泳裤),underpants(内裤)
b. belongings(所有物),clippings(剪下的东西),doings(行为),earnings(挣的钱),findings(调查结果),savings(储蓄),shavings(刨花),sweepings(扫拢的垃圾),surroundings(环境),tidings(消息),winnings(赢的钱),writings(作品)
c. amends(补偿),annals(编年史),archives(档案室),armed forces(武装部队),arms(武器),arrears(欠款),ashes(灰烬),assets(资产),bowels(肠),brains(头脑),clothes(衣服),congratulations(祝贺),contents(目录),dominoes(骨牌),dregs(渣滓),dues(费用),effects(财产),fireworks(烟火),goods(货物),greens(绿叶蔬菜),guts(胆量),living-quarters(住宅区),oilcolours(油画),outskirts(城郊),particulars(细节),remains(残余),riches(财富),stairs(楼梯),statistics(统计资料),thanks(感谢),tropics(热带),valuables(珍贵物品)
a. 某些疾病名称:
bends(潜水病),diabetes(糖尿病),measles(麻疹),mumps(腮腺炎),rabies(狂犬病),rickets(佝偻病),shingles(带状疱疹),syphilis(梅毒)
b. 某些学科名称或活动名称:
acoustics(光学),aerodynamics(空气动力学),aeronautics(航空学),economics(经济学),electronics(电子学),genetics(遗传学),linguistics(语言学),logistics(物流学),mathematics(数学),mechanics(机械学,力学),obstetrics(产科学),physics(物理学),politics(政治),statistics(统计学),thermodynamics(热力学)
c. 某些活动名称:
acrobatics(杂技),athletics(体育运动),billiards(台球),cards(打纸牌),dams(掷镖游戏),draughts(国际跳棋),skittles(撞柱游戏)
the authorities(当局),see the sights(观光),the waters of the river(滚滚江水),Chinese waters(中国水域),go to the pictures(去看电影),the odds(机会),customs(海关),accept their terms(接受他们的条件),put on airs(摆架子),judge a person by his looks(以貌取人),personal effects(个人财产),in high spirits(情绪高昂),natural resources(自然资源),consider her feelings(考虑她的感受),make matters worse(使情况恶化),watch his movements(监视他的活动),serve refreshments(用点心招待),travel expenses(路费),internal affairs(内部事务),working conditions(工作条件),have good manners(很有礼貌),hold talks(举行会谈),show your papers(把证件拿出来),strengthen the defences(加强防御工事),break off diplomatic relations(断绝外交关系)
以上谈到的各种单复数形式主要包括两种情况:第一,后接动词的单复数形式;第二,名词前面连用的冠词及限定词的形式。