复数可数名词 PLURAL COUNTABLE NOUNS.docx

1、复数可数名词 PLURAL COUNTABLE NOUNSCHAPTER 15. PLURAL COUNTABLE NOUNS1. The absence of a determiner before plural countable nounsThe absence of a determiner before plural countable nouns generally has the same significance as the presence of a or an before singular countable nouns.a. Making a general stat

2、ementWhen used in general statements, plural countable nouns are usually not preceded by determiners. The plural countable nouns in the following general statements are underlined.e.g. Musicians must practise a great deal. Newspapers can contain valuable information. Larches are conifers.A general i

3、dea can often be expressed either by means of a singular countable noun preceded by a or an, or by means of a plural countable noun not preceded by a determiner. For instance, in each of the following pairs of sentences, both sentences in the pair have the same meaning. Musicians must practise a gre

4、at deal. A musician must practise a great deal. Newspapers can contain valuable information. A newspaper can contain valuable information. Larches are conifers. A larch is a conifer.See Exercises 1, 2, 3 and 4.b. Referring to something not mentioned beforePlural countable nouns are generally not pre

5、ceded 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 preceded by determiners. It is assumed that the b

6、ranches, 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 a determiner.e.g. They are doctors. My frien

7、ds 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, the is used with plural countable nouns wh

8、en 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 the building. The students were talking and l

9、aughing.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, they are preceded by the, since the things re

10、ferred 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.g. The stars are shining brightly. The rose

11、s 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 stars which can be seen from the part of the

12、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 refer to the front steps of ones own house.c.

13、 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, sh or z, the name of the nationality must u

14、sually 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 end of the name when it is used in a genera

15、l statement. Names of nationalities to which s has been added are often used without being preceded by the.NationalityExample Argentinian Argentinians like to eat beef. Canadian Canadians have a tradition of playing hockey.d. Adjectives referring to classes of peopleAdjectives such as rich and poor

16、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, the poor has the meaning o

17、f 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 nounsUseSingular Countable NounsPlura

18、l Countable Nouns A weakened form of One a/an Naming a profession a/an no determiner Making a general statement a/an no determiner Something not mentioned before a/an no determiner Something referred to as a class the Something mentioned before the the When it is obvious what is meant the the Nation

19、alities ending in ch, se, sh the Adjectives referring to classes of people theSee 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 a

20、nd Eleanor saw the movie.Determiners are 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 p

21、receded by the. e.g. The Smiths live in that 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

22、examples of names of canals, deserts, oceans, 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

23、are examples of place names containing the 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

24、 NameExample lake Lake Superior island Manhattan 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

25、the plural. Such nouns take a plural verb, and generally 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

26、 of is often used.e.g. a pair of jeans a pair of 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 of

27、ten useful.In the above examples, the nouns jeans 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

28、: Engineers must be familiar with computers. An 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 we

29、ather.5. Physicists must study a great deal.6. Elephants 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 tra

30、nsportation. A secretary should be proficient in 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.Answers 3. Rewrite the following ge