Ⅳ.單、復(fù)數(shù)同形或易混的詞作主語(yǔ)時(shí):(參見“名詞”部分)
1.以“-ics”結(jié)尾的學(xué)科名詞:指教育、科研的某一學(xué)科,作單數(shù)。e.g.
Mathematics seems easy to me .我似乎覺得數(shù)學(xué)不難。
但是,表“具體的學(xué)業(yè)、活動(dòng)”等時(shí),多用作復(fù)數(shù)。e.g.
①Her mathematics are weak . 她數(shù)學(xué)差。(指“學(xué)業(yè)成績(jī)、能力”)
②What are your politiscs? 你的政治觀點(diǎn)如何?
2. “works工廠,means方法,series系列,species物種,aircraft飛機(jī)”等名詞單、復(fù)數(shù)同形,要從上下文判斷其具體意義來(lái)決定單、復(fù)數(shù)。e.g.
①This works was(These works were)built two years ago . 這(幾)家工廠是兩年前修建的。
②Every means has (All means have) been tried . 各種辦法都試過(guò)了。
這類名詞通常還有“fish ,deer ,sheep ,headquarters (總部駐地),bellows(風(fēng)箱), plastics, gallows (絞架), manners(禮貌) ,whereabouts (行蹤), ”等。(但news(消息)是不可數(shù)名詞,通常只作單數(shù)用。)
Ⅴ. "the + 形容詞/分詞"作主語(yǔ)時(shí):
1. 指“一類”人或事物時(shí),常用作復(fù)數(shù)用。e.g.
①The English speak English. 英國(guó)人講英語(yǔ)。
②The rejected were heaped in the corner . 廢品堆在角落里。
2.指“某一個(gè)”人,或“抽象的”事物時(shí),作單數(shù)用。e.g.
①The deceased was his father . 去世的是他父親。
②The agreeable is not always the useful . 好看的不一定中用。
③The new and progressive always wins over the old . 新生、進(jìn)步的事物總是要戰(zhàn)勝舊的東西。
Ⅵ.專用名詞作主語(yǔ)時(shí):
1.“書名、劇名、報(bào)刊名、國(guó)家名”等通常作單數(shù)用。e.g.
①The United States was founded in 1776. 美國(guó)成立于1776年。
②The Arabian Nights is very interesting . 《天方夜譚》很有趣。
2.“書刊名”有時(shí)作單數(shù)或復(fù)數(shù)兩可,尤其是編成集子的書。e.g.
Dickens’ Amerian Notes were (was ) published in 1842 .
狄更斯所著的《美國(guó)筆記》出版于1842年。