复数可数名词 PLURAL COUNTABLE NOUNSWord格式.docx

1、Plural countable nouns are generally not preceded by a determiner when referring to something not mentioned before.e.g. Branches blocked our path. Clouds were gathering overhead. Suddenly we saw buildings in front of us.In these examples, the plural nouns branches, clouds and buildings are not prece

2、ded by determiners. It is assumed that the branches, clouds and buildings have not been referred to previously.c. Naming a professionWhen a sentence such as the following is used to name a profession practised by two or more people, the name of the profession is in the plural and is not preceded by

3、a determiner.e.g. They are doctors. My friends are electricians. We were chefs. 2. The use of The before plural countable nounsa. Referring to something mentioned beforeIn general, the has the same meaning when used with plural countable nouns as when used with singular countable nouns. For instance

4、, the is used with plural countable nouns when referring to something which has been mentioned before.e.g. Fallen leaves covered the ground. The leaves rustled as we walked. In the orchard were apples and pears. The apples were nearly ripe. The doors opened, and students and teachers began leaving t

5、he building. The students were talking and laughing.In these examples, the first time the words leaves, apples and students appear, they are not preceded by determiners, because the things referred to have not been mentioned previously. The second time the words leaves, apples and students appear, t

6、hey are preceded by the, since the things referred to have already been mentioned.See Exercise 5.b. Referring to something when it is considered obvious what is meantThe is used with plural countable nouns when the speaker or writer considers it obvious which particular persons or things are meant.e

7、.g. The stars are shining brightly. The roses are blooming. We have put the children to bed. I was sitting on the front steps.These sentences give examples of the use of the to refer to things which are particularly important to the speaker or writer. The expression the stars usually refers to the s

8、tars which can be seen from the part of the earth where one lives. The expression the roses might refer to roses in ones own garden, or to roses in which one feels a particular interest. The children might refer to ones own children or to children for whom one is responsible. The front steps might r

9、efer to the front steps of ones own house.c. Names of nationalitiesThe is sometimes used with the name of a nationality in order to make a general statement about the people of that nationality. A plural verb must be used in such a statement.When the name of a nationality ends in the sound of ch, s,

10、 sh or z, the name of the nationality must usually be preceded by the.NationalityExample French The French are famous for their fine wines. Irish The Irish are known as poets and songwriters.When the name of a nationality does not end in the sound of ch, s, sh or z, the letter s must be added to the

11、 end of the name when it is used in a general statement. Names of nationalities to which s has been added are often used without being preceded by the. Argentinian Argentinians like to eat beef. Canadian Canadians have a tradition of playing hockey.d. Adjectives referring to classes of peopleAdjecti

12、ves such as rich and poor can be used with the in order to refer to a group of people as a class. A plural verb must be used.e.g. The blind attend special schools. The poor do not own their own homes. The rich often married for money.In the above examples, the blind has the meaning of blind people,

13、the poor has the meaning of poor people, and the rich has the meaning of rich people.The following table summarizes the most important uses of the determiners a, an, and the with singular and plural countable nouns.The absence of a determiner and the use of A, An and The before countable nounsUseSin

14、gular Countable NounsPlural Countable Nouns A weakened form of One a/an Naming a profession no determiner Making a general statement Something not mentioned before Something referred to as a class the Something mentioned before When it is obvious what is meant Nationalities ending in ch, se, sh Adje

15、ctives referring to classes of peopleSee Exercise 6. 3. The use of The with proper nounsa. Names of peopleIn English, names of people in the singular are not usually preceded by a determiner.e.g. Washington was the first president of the United States. Jack and Eleanor saw the movie.Determiners are

16、also usually not used when a title precedes a persons name. Doctor Defoe has a good reputation. Mr. Carpenter is a friend of ours.In these examples, the titles Doctor and Mr. are not preceded by determiners.However, names of people in the plural are usually preceded by the. e.g. The Smiths live in t

17、hat house. I have known the Harrisons for years.b. Names of placesIn English, the is usually used before the following types of place name: Type of Place Name canal desert ocean river sea plural place names place names containing the word ofThe following are examples of names of canals, deserts, oce

18、ans, rivers, and seas:e.g. the Panama Canal the Mojave Desert the Atlantic Ocean the St. Lawrence River the Beaufort SeaThe following are examples of plural place names:e.g. the United States the British Isles the Great Lakes the Rocky MountainsThe following are examples of place names containing th

19、e word of:e.g. the Gulf of Mexico the Cape of Good Hope the Bay of Biscay the Isle of WightOther types of place name are usually not preceded by determiners. For instance, determiners are usually not used before the following types of place name:Type of Place Name lake Lake Superior island Manhattan

20、 Island mountain Mount Rainier park Yosemite National Park city Boston street Main Street country Canada state Kansas province Nova Scotia county Halifax CountySee Exercise 7. 4. Nouns used only in the pluralSome English nouns are usually used only in the plural. Such nouns take a plural verb, and g

21、enerally have a plural form. For instance, the following nouns, which all refer to objects with two parts, are usually used only in the plural:e.g. jeans pajamas pliers scissorsIf it is desired to refer to such objects individually, the expression pair of is often used.e.g. a pair of jeans a pair of

22、 pajamas a pair of pliers a pair of scissorsWhen the expression pair of is used as the subject of the verb, the verb must agree with the word pair. e.g. Jeans are fashionable. A pair of jeans is expensive. Pliers are very useful. A pair of pliers is often useful.In the above examples, the nouns jean

23、s and pliers take the plural verb are, and the noun pair takes the singular verb is.See Exercise 8.EXERCISES for Chapter 151. Rewrite the following general statements using singular nouns. Make sure that the verbs agree with their subjects. For example: Engineers must be familiar with computers. An

24、engineer must be familiar with computers. Trees produce oxygen. A tree produces oxygen.1. Automobiles should be kept in good repair.2. Bats locate insects by means of sonar.3. Diplomats should, if possible, be multilingual.4. Hats are useful in cold weather.5. Physicists must study a great deal.6. E

25、lephants can be dangerous.Answers 2. Rewrite the following general statements using plural nouns. Make sure that the verbs agree with their subjects. For example: A bicycle is a convenient means of transportation. Bicycles are a convenient means of transportation. A secretary should be proficient in

26、 spelling and grammar. Secretaries should be proficient in spelling and grammar.1. A sportsman needs to remain calm under pressure.2. An eagle has good eyesight.3. A conference requires careful planning.4. A rock is composed of minerals.5. A potato is rich in starch.6. An omelette is made of eggs and other ingredients.3. Rewrite the following ge