先说第一点,关于可数名词和不可数名词的判断。汉语中并没有可数名词和不可数名词的概念,这给我们判断单词是否可数带来了很大困难。比如“家具”(furniture),这个概念在汉语中是可数的,但在英语中它不可数。又比如“发展”(development),按照汉语思维习惯,它应该是不可数名词,但它实际上可以作为可数名词使用(例如:There have been significant computer developments during the last decade.)
Pumas are large, cat-like animals which are found in America. When reports came into London Zoo that a wild puma had been spotted forty-five miles south of London, they were not taken seriously. However, as the evidence began to accumulate, experts from the Zoo felt obliged to investigate, for the descriptions given by people who claimed to have seen the puma were extraordinarily similar.
句子开头的 Pumas 泛指美洲狮这种动物,最后一句中 the puma 是特指,指代那只从动物园逃遁的美洲狮。
对于冠词的泛指,有四种表达形式:
1.不可数名词不加冠词表示泛指
2.复数名词不加冠词表示泛指
3.单数名词加定冠词 the 可以表示泛指
4.不定冠词 a/an 加单数名词可以表示泛指
下面解释一下这几点:
1.不可数名词不加冠词表示泛指
不可数名词在表示泛指时,前面不加定冠词 the,如果加 the,则表示特指。比如:
Salt is a strong-tasting substance, in the form of white powder or crystals.
此时 salt 是泛指,指代“盐”这一类物品。
Can you pass the salt please?
上面这句话的意思是“请把盐递过来好吗?”,这里 salt 是特指,指说话人和听话人都知道的那一袋“盐”。
文章开头的几个句子:
1.Who was the first American in the space?
2.The history shows that the usual response to violent protest is repression.
3.Homelessness is a serious problem for the society.
第一个句子错误的原因在于,space 表示“太空”时是不可数名词,不可数名词加定冠词 the 就变成了特指,这与句子要表达的意思不相符。原句要强调的是一个泛指的“太空”,因此 space 不能加 the,即要写成:
Who was the first American in space?
第二个句子中 history 是一个不可数名词,而原句要表达的“历史”是一个泛指概念,因此 the 也要去掉,即:
History shows that the usual response to violent protest is repression.
第三个句子也是同样的道理,当表示广义上的“社会”时,society 是不可数名词,单词前面的 the 要去掉(如果 the 不去掉就变成了特指,这与句子的语境不符):
Homelessness is a serious problem for society.
2.复数名词不加冠词表示泛指
复数名词在表示泛指时前面不能加定冠词 the,如果加了 the,就表示特指,比如:
(1)Pumas are large, cat-like animals which are found in America.
When reports came into London Zoo that a wild puma had been spotted forty-five miles south of London, they were not taken seriously. However, as the evidence began to accumulate, experts from the Zoo felt obliged to investigate, for the descriptions given by people who claimed to have seen the puma were extraordinarily similar.