不可数名词 non-count(able) noun 是指不能计算的物质、概念等,如果不指定度量单位,就不能用数字来修饰。比如:“牛奶(milk)”我们可以用量词“瓶(bottle)”来修饰牛奶说“一瓶牛奶(a bottle of milk)”,也可以用量词“升(litre)”来修饰牛奶说“一升牛奶(a litre of milk)”,但是我们不能计算牛奶本身,不可以直接说a milk,two milks。下面可数名词与不可数名词的例词:
Countable | Uncountable |
---|---|
dollar 美元 | money 钱 |
song 歌曲 | music 音乐 |
suitcase 行李箱 | luggage 行李 |
table 桌子 | furniture 家具 |
battery 电池 | electricity 电 |
bottle 瓶子 | wine 酒 |
report 报道 | information 信息 |
tip 提示 | advice 建议 |
journey 行程 | travel 旅行 |
job 职位 | work 工作 |
view 视线 | scenery 风景 |
不可数名词包括哪些?
物质名词(mass noun)、抽象名词(abstract noun)一般无法用数目计算,都属于不可数名词。专有名词(proper noun)一般是独一无二的,通常没有复数形式,也属于不可数名词。集合名词(collective noun)有属于可数与不可数的情况,如fruit,它通常是不可数的。如:
He doesn’t eat much fruit.
他不大吃水果。
但是,当要表示种类时,它可视为可数名词,即a fruit 指一种水果,fruits 指多种水果。如:
The potato is a vegetable, not a fruit.
土豆是一种蔬菜,而不是一种水果。
不可数名词的用法
1)不可数名词通常是单数,我们用单数动词。例如:
This news is very important.
这个消息很重要。
Your luggage looks heavy.
你的行李看起来很重。
2)用some,any,much,a little,a lot of , a bit of ,plenty of等表示多少。如:
Have you got any rice?
你有米饭吗?
I've got some money.
我有一些钱。
There is much water in the bottle.
瓶子里有很多水。
I’ll tell you much good news.
我会告诉你很多好消息。
We should collect some useful information.
我们应该收集一些有用的信息。
I've got a little money.
我有一点钱。
3)不可数名词前不能直接使用不定冠词 a/an和数词,我们不能说“an information”或者"a music",但我们可以说a piece of information或者a piece of music,用"表示数量的名词+of"修饰表示数量。
a piece of news 一段消息
a bottle of water 一瓶水
a grain of rice 一粒米
a drop of water 一滴水
a pair of scissors 一把剪刀
two cups of coffee 两杯咖啡(这里是两杯,cup用复数)
We can use the same uncountable noun in different partitive expressions with different meanings. For example, a loaf of bread and a slice of bread are partitive expressions with different meanings. A loaf of bread is what we call a whole unit of bread that we buy from a baker. A slice of bread is what we call a smaller unit of bread after it has been cut from a loaf.
对用一个不可数明词我们可以用不同意义的量词表达。例如,a loaf of bread(一条面包)和a slice of bread(一片面包)人意思不同。一条面包就是我们从面包师那里买来的一整块面包。一片面包是从面包上切下后,我们称之为较小的面包单位。
Here are some more examples(来看些例句):
Don't forget to buy a bag of rice when you go shopping.
购物时别忘了买一袋米。
Can I have one cup of coffee and two cups of tea.
我要一杯咖啡和两杯茶。
The police found some items of clothing scattered around the floor.
警察发现地板上散落着一些衣服。
I need a truck that will take at least three pieces of furniture.
我需要一辆能装三件家具的卡车。
You'd think a tablespoon of honey would be more than enough.
你会认为一大汤匙蜂蜜就足够了。
兼有可数和不可数意义的名词
Sometimes, the same noun can be countable and uncountable, often with a change of meaning.
有时,同一个名词可以是可数的和不可数的,通常有意义的改变。
for example:
Countable | Uncountable | |
---|---|---|
hair |
There are two hairs in my coffee! 我的咖啡里有两根头发。 |
I don't have much hair. 我头发不多。 |
light |
There are two lights in our bedroom. 我们的卧室里有两盏灯。 |
Close the curtain. There's too much light! 关上窗帘。光线太强了! |
work |
Macbeth is one of Shakespeare's greatest works. 麦克白是莎士比亚最伟大的作品之一。 |
I have no money. I need work! 我没有钱,我需要工作! |
time |
We had a great time at the party. 我们在聚会上玩得很开心。 |
Have you got time for a cup of coffee? 你有时间喝杯咖啡吗? |
room |
Our house has seven rooms. 我们的房子有七个房间。 |
Is there room for me to sit here? 房间里有我坐的地方吗? |
paper |
Have you got a paper to read? 你有报纸要读吗? |
I want to draw a picture. Have you got some paper? 我想画一幅画。你有纸吗? |
noises |
There are so many different noises in the city. 城市里有很多不同的噪音。(这里说的是噪音的种类) |
It's difficult to work when there is so much noise. 噪音太大时很难工作。 |