一、表示“类”的集体名词,常见的有
clothing; furniture; baggage/luggage; jewelry; traffic; information; machinery; merchandise(商品); produce(农作物); scenery
它们指同一类的许多东西,其用法与不可数名词相当:
①形式上总是单数,没有复数形式,作主语时,谓语用单数。如:
The old machinery is out of date.
这些旧机器过时了。
②不可直接与a(n)或数词连用。表数量时用much,little,some,a piece of等。如:
Each room has five pieces of furniture.
每个房间有五件家具。
③若需用代词,用单数代词。如:
Do you want to see my jewelry? It is in the box.
你想看我的珠宝吗?它在我的箱子里。
二、表示“群”的集体名词常见的有
(Ⅰ) people; police; cattle; poultry(禽类); vermin(害虫); clergy(神职人员); militia(民兵)
(Ⅱ) family; class; team; government; crowd; committee; crew; jury(陪审团); party(政党); firm; couple; board(董事会); group; gang(黑社会); enemy; union; audience; public(公众); mankind; humanity; youth
①上述(Ⅰ)部分的词作主语时,谓语动词通常用复数。如:
The police are looking for him.
警察当局正在找他。
②上述(Ⅱ)部分的词把集体当作一个整体时,用作单数;若考虑构成这些集体的各个成员时,看作复数。如:
My family is a large one.
我家是个大家庭。
My family are all workers.
我的家人都是工人。
③上述(Ⅰ)部分的词以及public,church,audience,mankind,humanity等通常只有单数形式,也不能直接加a(n)(audience除外);其中clergy,public,church,youth,police等的前面通常要加the。
④ 把一个集体名词看作单数或复数,要注意前后一致。如:
The team is famous for its(这里不能用their)long history.
该对以历史悠久而闻名。
He has joined the football team who are (这里不可用which is)all famous footballers.
他参加了一个队员全是著名足球选手的那个足球队。
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