在英语中,有很多量词词组,例如:a group of,a flock of, a bunch of,a bundle of等等。为了方便广大英语学习者更好地掌握,本文对量词词组粗略地归纳了以下的特点,具体表现为:
特点一:英语量词词组所表示的数或量,大致可归纳为四种类型,即定量、不定量、大量和少量。
1.表示定量的量词词组,譬如:
a couple of(两个、一对)—a couple of days,a couple of players,a couple of times
a cupful of(一满杯)—a cupful of jelly,a cupful of water
a portion of(一份/客)—a portion of duck,a portion of roast beef
2.表示不定量的量词词组,譬如:
a majority of(大多数/大半)—a majority of opinions,a majority of votes
an atom of(一点)—an atom of food,an atom of truth
a spell of(一阵/一段时间)—a spell of fine weather,a spell of coughing
3.表示大量的量词词组,譬如:
a flood of—a flood of ink(洋洋大篇),a flood of tears(泪如泉涌)
a heap of—a heap of earth(一堆泥土),a heap of customers(许多顾客)
a mountain of—a mountain of debts(债台高筑),a mountain of difficulties(困难重重)
4.表示少量的量词词组,譬如:
a drop of—a drop of fever(有点热度),a drop of dew(一点露水)
a particle of—a particle of feeling(一丝感情),a particle of dust(一点灰尘)
a shadow of—a shadow of doubt(一点怀疑),a shadow of freedom(一点自由)
特点二:有些数量词组修饰可数名词,有些数量词组修饰不可数名词,还有些则两者均可修饰。
1.修饰不可数名词的量词词组,譬如:
a bit of—a bit of English(一点英语),a bit of good advice(一些好意见),a bit of interest(一点兴趣)
a shred of—a shred of evidence(一点证据),a shred of cloth(少量布),a shred of reputation(一点声誉)
a sheet of—a sheet of glass(一块玻璃),a sheet of water(一片汪洋)
2.修饰可数名词的量词词组,譬如:
a cluster of—a cluster of flowers(一簇花),a cluster of spectators(一群观众),a cluster of bright stars(闪烁群星)
a string of—a string of pearls(一串珠子),a string of curses(连续不断的咒骂),a string of excuses(一连串借口)
a scram of—a scram of mosquitoes(一群蚊子),a scram of geese(一群鹅),a scram of children(一群孩子)
3.修饰(不)可数名词的量词词组,譬如:
a body of—a body of bees(一群蜜蜂),a body of cold air(一股冷空气),a body of facts(许多事实)
a block of—a block of ice(一大块冰),a block of flats(一幢公寓),a block of houses(一排房子)
a chain of—a chain of ideas(一系列想法),a chain of accidents(一连串事故),a chain of proof(一连串证据)
特点三:有些数量词组的搭配是固定的,而有些搭配则比较灵活。
1.搭配固定的量词词组,譬如:
a barrel of—a barrel of beer(一桶啤酒),a barrel of crude oil(一桶原油)
a basket of—a basket of eggs(一篮鸡蛋),a basket of apples(一篮苹果)
a line of—a line of trees(一行树),a line of poetry(一行诗)
2.搭配较灵活的量词词组,譬如:
a piece of—a piece of paper(一张纸),a piece of furniture(一件家具),a piece of equipment(一台设备)
a round of—a round of spirit(一巡酒),a round of diplomatic talks(一轮外交谈判),a round of toast(一片烤面包)
a bar of—a bar of chocolate(一块巧克力),a bar of soap(一条肥皂),a bar of light(一束光)