復數名詞前用定冠詞的基本原則

有網友問，如何理解書上說“復數名詞前不用冠詞”。其實說“復數名詞前不用冠詞”是不妥的。因為“復數名詞前用不用冠詞”與說話者是否特指該名詞有關。

如果復數名詞中表示泛指意義，則其前通常不用定冠詞（當然原則上也不會用不定冠詞，因為是復數名詞嘛）。如：

Trees drop their leaves in autumn. 樹木在秋季落葉。

Books may not be taken out of the library. 圖書館的圖書不得攜出館外。

Students may not use the staff car park. 學生禁用職工停車場。

People are becoming less tolerant of smoking these days. 如今人們對吸煙較為難以容忍了。

Women now make up two-fifths of the British labour force. 婦女構成英國勞動力的五分之二。

但是，如果復數名詞是表特指，意義，則應在其前用定冠詞。如：

The books sold out in a week. 書在一周內就售完了。

The apples were ripe enough to pick. 蘋果夠熟了，可以摘了。

Hurry up! The guests will be arriving at any minute! 快! 客人就要來了!

The children seemed to be awake when I went into their room. 在我進屋時，孩子們似乎醒了。