英語寫作常見錯誤例析(名詞可數性)

在英語寫作中，有很多同學把握不好名詞的數以及一些集合名詞的用法。名詞單復數變動的依據主要有以下三種：一是名詞本身屬于單數還是復數，二是根據名詞前的修飾成分，三是根據上下文的邏輯關系，看該名詞在句子中指代的是單數還是復數。請看實例：

誤用：This is irrelevant and, if I may say so, a rather naughty remark.

改為：This is an irrelevant and, if I may say so, a rather naughty remark.

說明：句中的irrelevant 是修飾名詞 remark 的，由于 remark 為單數可數名詞，所以應在修飾它的形容詞前使用合適的限定詞，根據后面的 a rather naughty 可知，這個限定詞應是不定冠詞。注意不要從漢語習慣出發，漏掉該用的不定冠詞。

句意：這話毫不相干，而且要是可以這樣說的話，還相當低級。

誤用：Before the boys could answer, angry voice was heard outside.

改為：Before the boys could answer, an angry voice was heard outside.

說明：voice 為可數名詞，在用作單數時，其前應有適當的限定詞。注意不要從漢語習慣出發，漏掉該用的限定詞。

句意：男孩們還來不及作出解答，就從外面傳來憤怒的聲音。

誤用：Considering that they are such important part of undergraduate courses, lectures are often presented in a remarkably poor manner.

改為：Considering that they are such an important part of undergraduate courses, lectures are often presented in a remarkably poor manner.

說明：句中的 part 為可數名詞，應在修飾它的形容詞前加上不定冠詞。注意不要從漢語習慣出發，漏掉該用的不定冠詞。

句意：鑒于演講課在大學本科課程中占了很重要的地位，這些課就顯得上得非常差。

誤用：Undeniably, political stability and human progresses in the country depend on greater economic success.

改為：Undeniably, political stability and human progress in the country depend on greater economic success.

說明：progress（進步）是不可數名詞，不用復數形式。

句意：不可否認，國家政治的穩定和人的進步都依賴于更大的經濟繁榮。

誤用：I have played a great deal of glamorous women who have broken men’s hearts, so people tend to see me as that sort of person.

改為：I have played a great number of [a lot of] glamorous women who have broken men’s hearts, so people tend to see me as that sort of person.

說明：由于是用于修飾可數的復數名詞 women，所以不能用 a great deal of。

句意：我已扮演過許多使男人傷心的、富有魅力的女角色，所以人們往往把我看成是那種人。

誤用：Dr Maturin could speak fluently in Latin and Greek, and as for modern language, to Jack’s certain knowledges he spoke half a dozen.

改為：Dr Maturin could speak fluently in Latin and Greek, and as for modern languages, to Jack’s certain knowledge he spoke half a dozen.

說明：modern language 在此指現代各種語言，其中的 language 應用復數；knowledge 為不可數名詞，不用復數，to one’s knowledge 為習語，意為“據某人所知”。

句意：馬圖林博士能流利地用拉丁語和希臘語說話。至于現代語言，據杰克的可靠消息，他會講六種。

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