英语把名词分成两类:可数名词和不可数名词,而这种划分并不总是与其他语言一致。advice、furniture、information 这样的词在许多学习者看来是可数的,但在英语中它们根本不能数。本指南讲解哪些名词不可数、与它们搭配的词、如何仍然表达数量、随意义变化的名词,以及 menu 和 vocabulary 这样的类别词。
阅读英文版指南 → 本页为机器翻译,未经母语者审校,可能有不准确之处。以英文版为准。
诊断结果会告诉你哪个部分需要复习。请点击下面对应的部分。
核心概念
可数名词指可以分成单位来数的东西。不可数名词指被看作一团或一个整体的东西,本身没有单位。
可数
一个个分开的单位
one chair, three chairs
不可数
一团或一个整体
some furniture, never three furnitures
数单位
数字加在单位上
three glasses of water
| 可数 | 不可数 |
|---|---|
| 有复数:chair, chairs | 没有复数:furniture,不是 furnitures |
| 可以加 a 或 an:a chair | 不加 a 或 an:不说 a furniture |
| 可以加数字:three chairs | 前面不加数字:不说 three furniture |
| 与 many、a few、several 连用 | 与 much、a little、little 连用 |
| 复数动词:the chairs are | 单数动词:the furniture is |
- 1
可数与否取决于英语单词,而不是事物本身。chairs 和 furniture 可以指同样的东西,但只有 chair 能数。许多语言在不同的地方划这条线,所以这类错误是有规律的,而不是粗心。
- 2
三条限制总是同时出现。不可数名词没有复数,不加 a 或 an,前面也不能加数字。记住一条,就知道另外两条。
- 3
你仍然可以通过数单位来表示不可数事物的数量:two pieces of advice、three slices of bread。
- 4
有些常用名词同时属于两类,每类意义不同。对这些词来说,你选择的形式会告诉读者你指的是哪个意思。
1
语法
可数还是不可数?
这个名词能加 -s、a 或 an,或数字吗?
规则: 不可数名词没有复数,不加 a 或 an,前面不能直接加数字。常常可以换用一个可数词来表达同样的意思。
不可数名词集中在哪些类别
永不加复数的词
这些词在学习者的写作中最常出现。它们都不加 -s、a 或 an。
起同样作用的可数词
| 不可数 | 可数的替代词 |
|---|---|
| advice | tips, suggestions, pieces of advice |
| homework | assignments, tasks |
| luggage, baggage | bags, suitcases |
| research | studies, research projects |
| news | stories, reports, news items |
| clothing | garments, outfits, items of clothing |
| traffic | cars, vehicles, traffic jams |
| money | coins, bills, dollars |
| scenery | views, landscapes |
需要用数字时,换用可数词往往比用单位表达更自然。
这一部分的常见错误
- 不可数名词加了复数 -s
Our guide shared some useful informations with us.✓ Our guide shared some useful information with us.information 没有复数。 - 不可数名词前用了 a 或 an
I need an advice about my essay.✓ I need some advice about my essay.advice 不加 a 或 an。 - 不可数名词前直接用数字
The airline allows two baggages per person.✓ The airline allows two pieces of baggage per person.数单位,或者说 two bags。
2
语法
量词与主谓一致
量词和动词与名词相配吗?
规则: 根据名词选择量词,不可数名词用单数动词。
让量词与名词相配
| 不可数 | 可数名词复数 | 两者皆可 |
|---|---|---|
| much information | many books | some, any |
| a little time | a few notebooks | a lot of, plenty of |
| little patience | few students | no, enough, more |
| less noise | fewer cars | |
| an amount of money | a number of people | |
| How much luggage? | How many bags? |
在日常的肯定句中,a lot of 比 much 更自然。much 主要用于疑问句、否定句和正式书面语。如果不确定名词是否可数,用 a lot of 几乎总是安全的。
不可数就是单数
无论数量多大,不可数名词在语法上都是单数。
| 句子 | 原因 |
|---|---|
| The scenery is spectacular. | scenery 不可数 |
| All the equipment has been checked. | 动词与 equipment 一致 |
| There is a lot of noise outside. | 用 there is,不用 there are |
| Economics is a difficult subject. | 以 -s 结尾,但是单数 |
以 -s 结尾的单数名词
statistics 有两种意思。Statistics is a hard subject 指这门学科;the statistics were surprising 指那些数据。
这一部分的常见错误
- 不可数名词用了可数量词
He gave me many good advices.✓ He gave me a lot of good advice.advice 不可数:用 a lot of,不用 many。 - 不可数名词用了复数动词
The traffic were very bad this morning.✓ The traffic was very bad this morning.不可数名词用单数动词。 - 不可数名词用了复数动词
Mathematics are my weakest subject.✓ Mathematics is my weakest subject.以 -s 结尾的学科名称是单数。
3
语法
数不可数的东西
不能数的东西怎么数?
规则: 用单位来数不可数名词。数字和复数加在单位词上,of 后面的名词保持不变。
复数转移到单位上
| 不要这样说 | 要这样说 |
|---|---|
| two loaves of bread | |
| three pieces of luggage | |
| two glasses of water | |
| two pieces of advice |
选择单位词
| 单位 | 搭配的名词 |
|---|---|
| a piece of | advice, information, furniture, news, cake, luggage, equipment |
| a slice of | bread, cheese, cake, toast, pizza, meat |
| a loaf of | bread |
| a grain of | rice, sand, salt, truth |
| a bar of | chocolate, soap, gold |
| a sheet of | paper, glass, metal |
| an item / article of | clothing, news, furniture |
| a glass / cup / bottle / carton of | water, coffee, tea, milk, juice |
| a spoonful of | sugar, syrup, medicine |
| a bag / jar / can / tube of | flour, honey, tuna, toothpaste |
| a drop of | blood, oil, rain |
拿不准时
piece 是通用的单位词。如果没有更具体的词合适,a piece of 通常可以接受。
这一部分的常见错误
- 不可数名词前直接用数字
She bought three breads for the party.✓ She bought three loaves of bread for the party.数单位:loaves。 - 单位词用错
Pass me a bar of paper, please.✓ Pass me a sheet of paper, please.paper 按 sheet 来数。 - 复数 -s 加错了词
We ordered three cups of coffees.✓ We ordered three cups of coffee.只有单位词变复数。
4
意义
可数与不可数两用的名词
你指的是物质,还是一个东西?
规则: 物质或泛指的概念不可数;一份或一次是可数的。
物质或概念,单位或个例
| 单词 | 不可数:物质或概念 | 可数:单位或个例 |
|---|---|---|
| coffee | Too much coffee makes me jittery. | Can we get three coffees? |
| hair | His hair is very short. | There are hairs on the sofa. |
| paper | We use a lot of paper at work. | The students handed in their papers. |
| glass | The vase is made of glass. | Put two glasses on the table. |
| room | Leave some room for dessert. | The house has six rooms. |
| light | Plants need light. | The city lights came on. |
| time | Time goes quickly on vacation. | I called you three times. |
| experience | Experience matters in this job. | Moving abroad was an experience. |
| work | She is looking for work. | a library of classic works |
| fish | We had fish for lunch. | There are six fish in the pond. |
| business | Business is good this year. | Two new businesses opened here. |
规律背后的规律
不可数的意思是泛指的物质或概念。可数的意思是其中的一份、一件或一次。如果你能指着它并给它一个数字,它就是可数的。
fish 的复数通常不变:six fish。fishes 主要用来指不同的鱼类品种。
这一部分的常见错误
- 把泛指意义当成可数
She has many experiences in marketing.✓ She has a lot of experience in marketing.表示能力经验的 experience 不可数。 - 把单个事物当成不可数
Climbing the volcano was amazing experience.✓ Climbing the volcano was an amazing experience.一次经历:an experience。 - 把泛指意义当成可数
There are no rooms for another desk in this office.✓ There is no room for another desk in this office.表示空间的 room 不可数。
5
意义
类别词与成员词
你指的是整个类别,还是其中的一个?
规则: 类别词指整个类别,常常不可数。要说类别中的一个,用成员词。
类别词与成员词
上位词(hypernym)是表示广泛类别的词。下位词(hyponym)是这个类别中的具体成员。
| 类别(上位词) | 成员(下位词) | 类别词可数吗? |
|---|---|---|
| furniture | chair, desk, sofa, bookshelf | 否 |
| clothing | shirt, dress, coat, scarf | 否 |
| equipment | camera, tent, helmet, laptop | 否 |
| food | bread, rice, soup, salad | 否(指食物种类时除外) |
| vocabulary | word, phrase, idiom | 否 |
| vehicle | car, bus, truck, bicycle | 是 |
| instrument | piano, violin, drum | 是 |
| animal | dog, cat, horse | 是 |
这是一个很强的倾向,而不是规则:有些类别词可数,有些成员词不可数(milk 是一种饮料)。
最容易出错的四个
| 不要说 | 要说 | 原因 |
|---|---|---|
| my favorite dish | menu 是整张菜单,不是上面的一道菜 | |
| one item on my bucket list | 你只有一张清单,上面有很多项 | |
| ten vocabulary words | vocabulary 是你掌握的全部词汇 | |
| I’ll schedule as many classes as possible | schedule 是一个整体计划;要数的是课程 |
反方向的错误
有时类别词才是正确的选择,而成员词太窄。The store sells furniture 涵盖了所有家具;当你指一般性的购物时,I need to buy some food for the trip 比列出一道道菜更好。
一个有用的习惯:指整个类别时,用类别词并保持不可数。指一个东西时,就说出那个东西。
这一部分的常见错误
- 用类别词指单个事物
Sushi is my favorite menu.✓ Sushi is my favorite dish.menu 是整张菜单。 - 用类别词指单个事物
Learning to surf is one of my bucket lists.✓ Learning to surf is one item on my bucket list.一张清单,很多项。 - 不可数名词加了复数 -s
I studied fifty new vocabularies last week.✓ I studied fifty new vocabulary words last week.vocabulary 是全部词汇。
自我检测
每个句子正确吗?点击查看答案。如果你不确定,部分标签会告诉你该看哪里。
第 1 部分We need more informations before we decide.
错误。 正确说法是 We need more information before we decide。information 没有复数。
第 1 部分The team made good progress this month.
正确。 progress 不可数,不加 a,也没有复数。
第 1 部分She gave me three tips for the interview.
正确。 tip 可数,所以 three tips 没问题。
第 2 部分How many luggage are you taking?
错误。 正确说法是 How much luggage are you taking? luggage 不可数。
第 2 部分There is a lot of furniture in the hall.
正确。 furniture 不可数,所以用 there is。
第 2 部分The news were a big surprise to everyone.
错误。 正确说法是 The news was a big surprise。news 以 -s 结尾,但是单数。
第 3 部分I’d like two glasses of water, please.
正确。 复数加在 glasses 上,water 保持不变。
第 3 部分She packed two piece of luggage.
错误。 正确说法是 She packed two pieces of luggage。单位词要变复数。
第 3 部分Add a slice of sugar to the tea.
错误。 正确说法是 Add a spoonful of sugar。糖是量出来的,不是切出来的。
第 4 部分I found two gray hairs on my coat.
正确。 一根一根的头发是可数的。
第 4 部分We love chickens in our salad.
错误。 正确说法是 We love chicken in our salad。chickens 指活鸡。
第 4 部分Two teas and a coffee, please.
正确。 点餐时,每一杯都是可数的。
第 5 部分Tacos are my favorite menu.
错误。 正确说法是 Tacos are my favorite dish。menu 是整张菜单。
第 5 部分The shop sells office furniture.
正确。 furniture 是类别词,保持不可数。
第 5 部分I learn five English vocabularies every morning.
错误。 正确说法是 I learn five English vocabulary words every morning。vocabulary 是你掌握的全部词汇。
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