25個重要集合名詞用法詳解
1. army的用法
army是一個可數(shù)的集合名詞,意思是“陸軍”“大群”“大批”等。注意以下用法:
(1) 表示軍隊或陸軍,其前通常用定冠詞;若與不定冠詞或數(shù)詞連用,則表示一支或幾支軍隊。如:
When I grow up, I’m joining the army. 我長大了要參軍。
It was said that it was a modern army. 據(jù)說那是一支現(xiàn)代化的軍隊。
The two armies fought for control of the bridge. 兩軍為占領(lǐng)那座橋而戰(zhàn)。
(2) army作主語時,謂語動詞可用單數(shù)(視為整體)或復數(shù)(側(cè)重個體)。如:
The army was [were] called out to enforce the curfew. 軍隊被派去強制執(zhí)行宵禁。
(3) 用于an army of表示“一群……”時,其后通常接可數(shù)名詞的復數(shù)形式;這類結(jié)構(gòu)若用作主語,謂語動詞可用單數(shù)(視為整體)或復數(shù)(側(cè)重個體)。如:
An army of bees were flying around. 一大群蜜蜂到處飛著。
An army of workmen was brought in to build the stadium. 一大批工人被召來修建運動場。
但是,若用armies of…作主語,則謂語動詞要用復數(shù)。如:
Armies of rescue workers are sorting through the rubble. 救援大軍正在碎石中搜尋。
2. audience的用法
(1) audience的意思是“觀眾”“聽眾”,用作主語時,其謂語可用單數(shù)(視為整體)或復數(shù)(視為個體)。如:
The audience was made up of very young children. 觀眾都是很小的孩子們。
The audience were all moved to tears. 聽眾都感動得流了淚。
但有時用單數(shù)或復數(shù)均可以,只是側(cè)重點稍有不同。如:
The audience was [were] very excited by the show. 觀眾對演出感到非常興奮。
(2) 由于audience 是集合名詞,所以an audience 不是指“一個觀眾”,而是指某一群觀眾、某一個場次的觀眾、某一方面的觀眾等;同樣地,audiences 也不是指“多個觀眾”,而是指多群觀眾,多個場次的觀眾,多個方面的觀眾等。
另外,audience作為集合名詞,原則上不能用它表示個體,但every audience是例外,當要強調(diào)每一名觀眾時,可以這樣用。如:
The pianist made a conquest of every audience for which she played. 這位鋼琴家以她的演奏征服了每一位聽眾。
(3) 形容聽(觀)眾人數(shù)之多或少,通常用big, large, huge, mass, vast, wide以及small, thin等形容詞修飾,但是不用many, few修飾。如:
There was a large audience at the concert. 音樂會有大批觀眾。
She has never spoken to such a big audience before. 她以前從未向這么多人講過話。
(4) 要具體表示觀眾的數(shù)量,可參考以下表達。如:
The series has attracted an audience of more than 10 million. 這個系列片吸引了1 000多萬觀眾收看。
There were at least three hundred people in the audience. 觀眾至少有300人。
不過,偶爾它也可直接受數(shù)字(通常為較大的數(shù)字)的修飾。如:
Three thousand audience crowded the concert hall. 3 000名聽眾擠滿了音樂大廳。
3. club的用法
club用作集合名詞時的意思是“俱樂部的人”;若用作主語,謂語可用單數(shù)(視為整體)或復數(shù)(側(cè)重其個體)。如:
The tennis club has [have] organized a dance. 網(wǎng)球俱樂部組織了一個舞會。
The club has [have] decided to increase subscriptions. 會所決定增加報刊訂閱份數(shù)。
4. committee的用法
(1) 用作集合名詞,通常指由較大團體所委派以處理某事務的“委員會”。若視為整體,表單數(shù)意義;若考慮其個體,則表示復數(shù)意義。如:
The committee was composed of elected leaders and citizens. 委員會是由當選的領(lǐng)導人和市民們組成的。
The committee are of the opinion that the time is inopportune. 委員們認為時機不合適。
另外,若后接定語從句,視為復數(shù)時,關(guān)系代詞用who;視為單數(shù)時,關(guān)系代詞用that或which:
The committee who were [which was] responsible for this decision would consider it over again. 對這一決定負責的委員會是會重新考慮它的。
(2) 表示是委員會的成員,通常用(be) on the committee。如:
What is your role on the committee? 你在委員會擔任什么工作?
The class delegated six students to serve on the committee. 班里選出6名學生擔任學生會委員。