disease的用法與可數性

1. 表示疾病的總稱，為不可數名詞。如：

Flies spread disease. 蒼蠅能傳播疾病。

Disease is usually caused by germs. 疾病多由病菌引起。

War and disease had thinned the population. 戰爭和疾病已使人口減少。

2. 用于身體部分連用，表示相應的病，通常不可數。如：

Some alcoholics develop liver disease. 有些酗酒者會得肝病。

Smoking is the prime cause of lung disease. 抽煙是得肺病的主要原因。

Tension is a major cause of heart disease. 精神緊張是引起心臟病的主要原因。

但有時也可連用不定冠詞。如：

She has caught a lung disease. 她染上了肺部疾病。

She got a rare liver disease when she was only twenty. 他年僅20歲時就患上了一種罕見的肝病。

3. 表示某種疾病，為可數名詞。如：

Cancer is a deadly disease. 癌癥是一種致命的疾病。

Many cattle ape suffering from a disease called BSE. 許多牛得了瘋牛病。

Why does man have more diseases than animals? 人類的疾病為什么比動物的多?

4. 有關“疾病”的表達習慣：

你生了什么病?

正：What’s your trouble?

誤：What’s your disease?

假期中他害了一場大病。

正：While on holiday he caught a serious disease.

誤：While on holiday he caught a big (heavy) disease.