the number of XX,后面动词用单数还是复数?
60天写作社群里面有同学提到了一个问题:为什么the increasing number of+复数名词,后面谓语动词用单数,而the increasing levels of air pollution后面用的是复数?
相信不少人也有同样的疑问。理解问题的关键在于知道the number of XX表示“……的数目”,主语是number,因此后面谓语动词用单数,比如:The number of road accidents hasdoubled in the last ten years.
而对于the increasing levels of air pollution,其主语是levels,因此后面谓语动词用复数,比如:The increasing levels of air pollution concern us all.
对于the number of XX,还要和用法a number of XX区分。A number of XX相当于“很多……”或“一些……”,后面的谓语动词需要用复数形式。朗文词典也专门针对这一点做了说明。
另一个单词variety也跟number的用法相似。如果是the variety of something,那么后面的谓语动词用单数,比如:The variety of dishes on offer surprises me.
如果是a variety of something,后面用的就是复数,如:A variety of treatment methods exist.
此外,还要注意the number of和the amount of的区别。The number of后面接可数名词复数,而the amount of后面接不可数名词。
举个例子,我们不能说:The new law limits the numberof moneya candidate can spend. 因为money为不可数名词,而应该说:The new law limits the amountof money a candidate can spend.
一些同学可能还会见到这样的用法:large numbers/amounts of XX,这一搭配意思等同于a large number/amount of XX,举个例子:
Large numbers of invitations were sent. = A large number of invitations were sent.
不过需要注意的是,large amounts of XX作为主语时,虽然XX是不可数名词,但后面的谓语动词用复数。比如《剑桥词典》就有这么一个例句:Small amounts of land wereused for keeping animals. 少量的土地用于饲养动物。
总结一下:
a number of XX后面的谓语动词用复数,the number of XX后面的谓语动词用单数。
a/the number of后面用名词复数,an/the amount of后面用不可数名词
large amounts of XX后面的谓语动词用复数。 返回搜狐,查看更多
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