| 单词 | 复数名词 |
| 释义 | 〔one〕When constructions headed byone appear as the subject of a sentence or relative clause, there may be a question as to whether the verb should be singular or plural.Such a construction is exemplified in the sentenceOne of every ten rotors was found defective. Although the pluralwere is sometimes used in such sentences, an earlier survey found that the singular was preferred by a large majority of the Usage Panel. ·Another problem is raised by constructions such asone of those people who or its variants. In the sentenceThe defeat turned out to be one of the most costly blows that were ever inflicted on our forces, most grammarians would hold that the pluralwere is correct, in as much as the subject of the verb is the plural nounblows. However, constructions of this sort are often used with a singular verb even by the best writers.Note also that when the phrase containingone is introduced by the definite article, the verb in the relative clause must be singular: 当以one 开头的结构作为一个句子或关系从句的主语出现时， 就出现动词用单数还是复数的问题，如用在句子每十个转子中有一个为次品 中的这种结构。 虽然复数were 有时用在这种句子中， 但在一次早期的调查发现用法专题使用小组的大部分成员更倾向于用单数。另一个问题是由象one of those people who 这样的结构及其变化引起的。 在句子The defeat turned out to be one of the most costly blows that were ever inflicted on our forces, 中, 大多数语法学家主张用复数were 是正确的， 以及主要是由于动词的主语是复数名词blow 所致。 然而，这种结构常与单数动词连用，甚至被很有声望的作家采用。也要注意当包含one 的短语被定冠词限制时， 相关的从句中的动词一定要用单数： 〔none〕It is true thatnone is etymologically derived from the Old English word ān, "one,” but the word has been used as both a singular and a plural noun from Old English onward.The plural use can be found in reputable sources such as the King James Bible, Dryden, and Burke;and H.W. Fowler described the traditional rule as "a mistake.”Either a singular or a plural verb is acceptably used in a sentencesuch asNone of the conspirators has (or have ) been brought to trial. Whennone is modified by almost, however, it is difficult to avoid treating the word as a plural: 事实是这样的：none 根据词源学来自于古英语词汇 an “一，” 但是此词从古英语开始既被用作单数名词，又被用作复数名词形式。复数用法可以在规范的原始资料如詹姆士圣经、德莱顿以及伯克的作品中发现。H·W·福勒把传统的规则描述为“一个错误”。无论是单数还是复数动词均可以被接受用于句子中，如所有的同谋者都未 （或者 have ) 被送审。 然而当none 被 almost 修饰时， 很难避免将此词当作复数： 〔the〕Used before singular or plural nouns and noun phrases that denote particular, specified persons or things:这个：用于单数或复数名词或名词短语前指特定人或事：〔few〕However,less is idiomatic in certain constructions wherefewer would occur according to the traditional rule. Less than is used before a plural noun that denotes a measure of time, amount, or distance: 然而less 在一定的句法结构中具有成语性质， 而其中fewer 以传统的规则出现。 Less than 用在表示一定时间、数量或距离尺度的复数名词前： 〔series〕Series is both a singular and a plural form. When it has the singular sense of "one set,”it takes a singular verb, even whenseries is followed by of and a plural noun: Series 既是单数形式又是复数形式。 当它具有“一套”的单数意思时，它使用单数动词，即使当series 紧接着 of 和一个复数名词时也是如此： 〔neither〕However, it is often used with a plural verb,especially when followed byof and a plural: 但它常跟复数动词连用，尤其当后跟of 和一个复数名词时： 〔few〕is sometimes used with plural nouns in the expressionsno less than (as in No less than 30 of his colleagues signed the letter ) andor less (as in Give your reasons in 25 words or less ). 有时在no less than 中与复数名词连用（象在 他的同事中不少于三十位在那封信上署了名 ）， 以及or less （象在 用不多于二十五个单词来讲述你的理由 ） 〔macaco〕ma- [pl. n. pref.] ma- [表复数名词的前缀] 〔nothing〕According to the traditional rule,nothing is invariably treated as a singular, even when followed by an exception phrase containing a plural noun: 根据传统法则，nothing 始终是作为一个单数， 除了你的恐惧之外没有什么可以阻挡你甚至后跟一个含复数名词的词组时也不例外： 〔people〕Butpeople is used in other compounds: people mover; people power. These examples are exceptions to the general rule that plural nouns cannot be used in such compounds;note that we do not sayteethpaste or books-burning. See Usage Note at man 但people 也可用在其它复合词中： people mover；people power。 这些例子是复数名词不能用于复合词的规则的例外情况；请注意我们不能说teethpaste 或 books-burning。 参见 man〔what〕Whenwhat is the subject of a clause, it may be construed as singular or plural, depending on the sense.It is singular when taken as the equivalent ofthat which or the thing which, as inI see what seems to be a dead tree; and it is plural when it is taken as the equivalent ofthose which or the things which, as inHe sometimes makes what seem to be gestures of aloofness. ? When awhat clause is itself the subject of a sentence, it may be construed as singular or plural,but the conditions governing this choice are somewhat more complicated.In general, awhat clause will be taken as a plural when the clause contains an explicit indication of its own plurality. There are two principal cases.First, the clause is plural ifwhat is the subject of the clause and the verb of the clause is itself plural: What seem to be two dead trees are blocking the road. What most surprise me are the inflammatory remarks at the end of his article. If the verb in thewhat clause does not anticipate the plural sense of the predicate in this way, a singular verb is generally used in the main clause as well,though the plural is sometimes found:What truly commands respect is (sometimes are ) a large navy and a resolute foreign policy. Second, thewhat clause is treated as plural when its predicate contains a plural noun phrase that unambiguously establishes the plurality of the clause as a whole, as inWhat traditional grammarians called "predicates" are called "verb phrases" by modern linguists. What the Romans established as military outposts were later to become important trading centers. In the absence of explicit plural marking of either of these types in a subjectwhat clause, the clause is usually treated as singular for the purposes of agreement, regardless of the sense:What she held in her lap was four kittens. What the apparent diamonds turned out to be was paste. In some cases, however, a clause withwhat as the subject may be treated as singular or plural, depending on a subtle distinction of sense. InWhat excite him most are money and power, the implication is that money and power are distinct elements; inWhat excites him most is money and power, the implication is that money and power are taken as constituting a single entity.See Usage Note at which 当what 作为从句中的主语时， 它既可被当作单数也可以为复数，这取决于词义。当被看作是that which 或 the thing which 时它就是单数， 如在I see what seems to be a dead tree（我看到个象棵死树的物体）” 这句话中； 当它被用作those which 或 the things which 的对应词时它是复数， 如在He sometimes makes what seem to be gestures of aloofness（他有时做一些似乎很超然的手势） 中。 当what 从句本身是句子的主语时， 它可被当作单数或复数，但决定这种选择的条件略为复杂些。总体上说，what 从句的含有对其数性明确指示时，它就可以将当作复数。 这有两种最主要的情况：首先，如果what 是从句的主语而该从句的谓语动词本身是复数，从句就是复数： What seem to be two dead trees are blocking the road.（象两棵死树的物体挡着路）； What mostsurprise me are the inflammatory remarks at the end of his article.（最令我吃惊的是他文章结尾处的煽动性言词） 。 如果what 从句的谓语动词并不预示谓语是复数， 主句中通常也用单数动词，尽管有时也可以发现有复数：What truly commands respect is（有时 are ) a large navy and a resolute foreign policy（真正博得尊敬的是强大的海军和坚定的外交政策） ； 其次what 从句在其谓语含有复数名词短语，并且其明显可建立整个从句的复数性时是被当作复数的， 如在What traditional grammarians called "predicates" are called "verb phrases" by modern linguists.（那些传统语法家所称为“谓语”的则被现代语言学家称作“动词短语”） What the Romans established as military outpostswere later to become important trading centers.（那些罗马人设为军事前哨基地的地方后来成为了重要的贸易中心）。 当what 从句主语缺乏这两类明确表示复数性的标记时， 从句通常为了一致性而不顾及词义地被当作单数：What she held in her lap was four kittens.（她抱在膝盖上的是四只小猫）。 What the apparent diamonds turned out to bewas paste.（那些看上去象真的钻石结果却是人造宝石） 。 然而，在一些情况下，以what 作主语的从句可被当单数或复数，取决于语义上微妙的差异。 在What excite him most are money and power（最让他兴奋的是金钱和权力）， 这句话中暗含着金钱和权力是不同的成分； 在What excites him most is money and power（最让他兴奋的是金钱和权力）， 这句话中暗含着金钱和权力是作为构成一个单一整体的成分 参见 which〔either〕Ineither . . . or constructions, the two conjunctions should be followed by parallel elements.The following is regarded as incorrect:You may either have the ring or the bracelet (properly, You may have either the ring or the bracelet ). The following is also incorrect:She can take either the examination offered to all applicants or ask for a personal interview (properly, She can either take . . . ). · When used as a pronoun,either is singular and takes a singular verb: The two left-wing parties disagree with each other more than either does (not do ) with the right. When followed byof and a plural noun, either is often used with a plural verb: 在either … or 结构中， 两个连接词后应跟并列成分。下面这句话被认为是不正确的：You may either have the ring or the bracelet ，正确的应是 You may have either the ring or the bracelet （你既可以有戒指也可以有手镯） 下面这句也是不对的：She can take either the examination offered to all applicants or ask for a personal interview。 正确的应是， She can either take …（她可以参加提供给所有申请人的考试，也可以要求一个单独面试。） 作为代名词时，either 是单数，动词应用单数形式： The two left-wing parties disagree with each other more than either does （不用 do ) with the right.（两个左翼党之间的分歧比任何一个与右翼党的分歧都要大） 当后面接of 和一个复数名词的时候， either 经常与动词复数形式配合： |
| 随便看 |
英汉汉英双解词典收录301015条英汉双解翻译词条，可根据汉字查询相应的英文词汇，基本涵盖了全部常用汉字的英文读音、翻译及用法，是英语学习及翻译工作的有利工具。