大学英语辅导：不可忽视的名词及其复数形式英语中有些名词既可用作可数名词,也可用作不可数名词,当它们以抽象名词或以其复数形式出现时,其意义往往大不相同。
因此,在教与学的过程中教师不可忽视,学生更不可大意。
1.evidence / evidencesevidence作"证据" 解时,是抽象名词;作"迹象"解时,既是可数名词又是不可数名词。
Is there any evidence for his guilt?There are evidences that somebody has been living here.2.relation / relationsrelation作抽象名词解时,指"联系,关联";作可数名词解时,指"亲戚,亲属"。
The cost of this experiment has no relation to the results.All of his relations came to spend their holidays at his home.3.property / propertiesproperty作集体名词解时,为"(财产的)总称";作可数名词解时(通常用其复数形式),为"性能,特性;(舞台上或电影中)表演用的可移动物件"。
The police found some stolen property hidden in the chief's house.Many plants have medical properties.4.doubt / doubtsdoubt作抽象名词表示"怀疑";作可数名词表示"怀疑的念头,疑虑"。
There is not much doubt about it.Sudden doubts came to his mind.5.term / termsterm作可数名词解时,表示"术语;学期"等;其复数形式,表示"措辞;条件;关系"等。
Most schools have a fall term and a spring term.I can't accept his terms.pliment / complimentscompliment作"称赞;尊敬"时,通常为可数名词(多以单数形式出现);作"致意,祝贺"时,用其复数形式。
He paid his boss a high compliment.Give my best compliments to your parents.7.amusement / amusementsamusement作"消遣;娱乐"解时,是抽象名词;作"娱乐活动"解时,常用其复数形式。
His favorite amusement is hunting.There are plenty of amusements in a big city-plays, moving pictures, concerts, football matches, and so on.8.ash / ashesash作"灰,灰末"解时,是不可数名词;作"灰烬;废墟"解时,多用其复数形式。
Don't drop your cigarette ash on the carpet.A large number of houses were burnt to ashes.9.attainment / attainmentsattainment作抽象名词时,表示"达到";常以名词复数形式出现时,表示"造诣,学识"。
The right of speaking freely is one of the necessary means to the attainment of the truth.Once language developed, the possibilities for humankind's future attainments and cultural growth increased.10.responsibility / responsibilitiesresponsibility 作抽象名词,表示"责任,职责";以名词的复数形式出现时,表示"家务事"或对家庭承担的"责任,义务"。
They were quick to exploit the natural resources of the country.His resource has saved him from death many times.11.resource / resourcesresource作可数名词,表示"自然资源;消遣方法";作不可数名词,表示"智略,机敏,创造精神"。
They were quick to exploit the natural resources of the country.His resource has saved him from death many times.12.art / artsart作"(一门)手艺,技能"解时,常用名词单数形式;指大学里开设的哲学、文学、语文、历史等文科课程时,却用其复数形式arts或arts subjects。
She has an art for making people feel at ease.History and literature are among the arts.13.society / societiessociety 作"社会"解时,是不可数名词;作"(为某种目的组成的)社团,团体"解时,是可数名词。
We all have to learn how to behave ourselves in society.He joined various university societies and clubs.14.force / forcesforce 作抽象名词解时,意为"力量,暴力";作可数名词解时,意为"自然力,势力"。
He didn't use much force.Religion and politics are powerful forces in society.15.ethic / ethicsethic以单数形式出现时,表示"道德标准";以复数形式出现时,表示"伦理,道德规范"。
the Christian ethic基督教伦理The ethics of his decision are doubtful.16.violation / violationsviolation作抽象名词解时,是"违背,违反";作可数名词解时,是"违犯行为"。
He was fined for his violation of the traffic laws.These are gross violations of human rights.17.business / businessesbusiness 作不可数名词,表示"买卖;商业";作可数名词,表示"商业机构,商店"。
We don't do much business with foreign companies.Many small businesses have gone bankrupt recently.18.privilege / privilegesprivilege 作不可数名词,表示"(有钱有势者的)特权";作可数名词,表示"特别给予的好处或待遇、优惠"。
The beautiful girl had led a life of luxury and privilege.What are the privileges that go with the job?19.loss / lossesloss 作抽象名词,表示"丧失,损失"; 作可数名词,表示"(生意等)亏损的钱"。
The loss of his wife was a great blow to him.Oil suffered losses in the export market.20.prospect / prospectsprospect的单数形式,表示"景色,景象"; 其名词复数形式,表示"前景,前程,前途"。
The hill commands a fine prospect.In recent years, the prospects of car manufacture are good.21.production / productionsproduction 作"生产、制造"解时,是抽象名词;作"(文艺)作品"解时,是可数名词。
Production is at all times and under all conditions social production.They saw several National Theatre productions.22.product / productsproduct 作"商业产品总称"解时,是不可数名词;作"某事物的产物"解时,是可数名词。
We should improve the gross national product.They are the products of post-war influence.23.institution / institutionsinstitution 作"建立;任命"解时,是不可数名词;作"慈善机关,福利院;风俗,习惯"解时,是可数名词。