1. 關(guān)于是否用作可數(shù)名詞和是否用復數(shù)形式:
(1) 表示抽象意義的“困難”,是不可數(shù)名詞。如:
Bad planning will lead to difficulty later. 計劃不周會給以后帶來困難。
Refer to your dictionary in case of difficulty. 如果遇到難題,請參考你的字典。
(2) 表示具體意義的“困難”(如難事、難點、難題等),是可數(shù)名詞。如:
Here is a difficulty for us to get over. 這兒有一個困難要我們克服。
He met with many difficulties when travelling. 他在旅行進遇到過不少傷腦筋的事。
(3) 在某些詞組中是不可數(shù)名詞(只用單數(shù)),如with difficulty(困難地),without difficulty(容易地);而在某些詞組中又是可數(shù)名詞(且通常要用復數(shù)形式),如make difficulties(刁難),under difficulties(在困難條件下)。
(4) 在某些詞組中可用作可數(shù)名詞或不可數(shù)名詞,有時意義相同,如make no difficulty=make no difficulties(無異議,不反對),有時意義不同,如be in difficulty(有困難),be in difficulties(手頭拮據(jù))。
2. 表示“做某事有困難”,其后不接 to do sth,而接 (in) doing sth,其中的 in 含有 while之意,在口語中通常可以省略;由于這樣用的 difficulty 意思比較抽象,因此不可數(shù),不用復數(shù)形式,也不連用不定冠詞。如:
I had difficulty understanding the poems. 這些詩我感到很難理解。
I found great difficulty (in) doing the work. 做這工作我覺得很吃力。
There is much difficulty in finding his office. 沒費什么勁就找到了他的辦公室。
若是后接名詞,則通常用介詞with。如:
I’m having difficulty with my travel arrangements. 我安排旅行遇到了困難。
Some people had difficulty with the lecture, but most understood. 有些人聽講有困難,但大部分人聽懂了。
另外,有時也可后接 about (doing) sth,其中的 about 隱含有“關(guān)于”之意。如:
There oughtn’t to have been any difficulty about it 此事本不應有什么困難。
There shouldn’t be any difficulty about getting you a visa. 給你弄個簽證不會有什么困難吧。
3. 表示“做某事的困難”,其后可接 of doing sth。如:
He tried to explain to me the difficulty of learning to cook from books. 他向我解釋照著書本學習烹飪的困難。