大学英语辅导：不可忽视的名词及其复数形式

大学英语辅导：不可忽视的名词及其复数形式

英语中有些名词既可用作可数名词,也可用作不可数名词,当它们以抽象名词或以其复数形式出现时,其意义往往大不相同。因此,在教与学的过程中教师不可忽视,学生更不可大意。

1.evidence / evidences

evidence作"证据" 解时,是抽象名词;作"迹象"解时,既是可数名词又是不可数名词。

Is there any evidence for his guilt?

There are evidences that somebody has been living here.

2.relation / relations

relation作抽象名词解时,指"联系,关联";作可数名词解时,指"亲戚,亲属"。

The cost of this experiment has no relation to the results.

All of his relations came to spend their holidays at his home.

3.property / properties

property作集体名词解时,为"(财产的)总称";作可数名词解时(通常用其复数形式),为"性能,特性;(舞台上或电影中)表演用的可移动物件"。

The police found some stolen property hidden in the chief's house.

Many plants have medical properties.

4.doubt / doubts

doubt作抽象名词表示"怀疑";作可数名词表示"怀疑的念头,疑虑"。

There is not much doubt about it.

Sudden doubts came to his mind.

5.term / terms

term作可数名词解时,表示"术语;学期"等;其复数形式,表示"措辞;条件;关系"等。

Most schools have a fall term and a spring term.

I can't accept his terms.

pliment / compliments

compliment作"称赞;尊敬"时,通常为可数名词(多以单数形式出现);作"致意,祝贺"时,用其复数形式。

He paid his boss a high compliment.

Give my best compliments to your parents.

7.amusement / amusements

amusement作"消遣;娱乐"解时,是抽象名词;作"娱乐活动"解时,常用其复数形式。

His favorite amusement is hunting.

There are plenty of amusements in a big

city-plays, moving pictures, concerts, football matches, and so on.

8.ash / ashes

ash作"灰,灰末"解时,是不可数名词;作"灰烬;废墟"解时,多用其复数形式。

Don't drop your cigarette ash on the carpet.

A large number of houses were burnt to ashes.

9.attainment / attainments

attainment作抽象名词时,表示"达到";常以名词复数形式出现时,表示"造诣,学识"。

The right of speaking freely is one of the necessary means to the attainment of the truth.

Once language developed, the possibilities for humankind's future attainments and cultural growth increased.

10.responsibility / responsibilities

responsibility 作抽象名词,表示"责任,职责";以名词的复数形式出现时,表示"家务事"或对家庭承担的"责任,义务"。

They were quick to exploit the natural resources of the country.

His resource has saved him from denth many times.

11.resource / resources

resource作可数名词,表示"自然资源;消遣方法";作不可数名词,表示"智略,机敏,创造精神"。

They were quick to exploit the natural resources of the country.

His resource has saved him from death many times.

12.art / arts

art作"(一门)手艺,技能"解时,常用名词单数形式;指大学里开设的哲学、文学、语文、历史等文科课程时,却用其复数形式arts或arts subjects。

She has an art for making people feel at ease.

History and literature are among the arts.

13.society / societies

society 作"社会"解时,是不可数名词;作"(为某种目的组成的)社团,团体"解时,是可数名词。

We all have to learn how to behave ourselves in society.