刘芷昕
在初中英语中,同学们常常会碰到一些这样的名词,它们既可以作可数名词,又可以作不可数名词,但其含义则有所不同,同学们要注意区分。
一、fish
fish,用作可数名词时,意为“鱼”,有单复数形式。当它为集合名词,表示鱼的条数时,则单复数同形;如果强调的是鱼的不同种类时,通常用复数形式fishes。fish用作不可数名词时,无复数形式,意为“鱼肉”。例如:
He caught two fish yesterday.
他昨天抓到了两条鱼。
I’d like some fish and beef for dinner.
晚餐我想要吃一些鱼肉和牛肉。
There are so many different kinds of fishes in the river that I couldn’t believe my eyes.
这条河里有这么多不同种类的鱼,我简直不敢相信自己的眼睛。
类似的食物名词还有chicken,用作可数名词时,意为“鸡,小鸡”,用作不可数名词时,意为“鸡肉”。例如
Thereisverylittlefeedleftforthechickens.
鸡饲料没剩多少了。
It tastes like chicken, only stronger.
这东西尝起来像鸡肉,只是味道更浓一点。
二、time
time,意为“次、回、倍”或“时期、时代、时机”时,常用作可数名词;表示“时间”这一抽象的概念时,则为不可数名词。例如:
She exercises four times a week.
她每周锻炼四次。
This tree is three times as tall as that one.
这棵树是那棵树的三倍高。
Now is a good time to buy a house.
现在买房子正是时候。
Times have changed and so have I.
时代变了,我也变了。
Do it yourself. I don’t have too much time.
你自己做吧,我没太多时间。
三、room
room,表示“房间、屋子”时,为可数名词;表示“空间、位置、余地”时,则为不可数名词。例如:
All rooms have hot and cold water.
所有的房间都有冷、热水。
She has a room to herself.
她单独住一间房。
The big bed takes up too much room.
那张大床占用了太多空间。
Move down inside, please! Make room for others.
请往里走,给其他的人让点地方!
四、glass
glass,表示“玻璃杯,玻璃杯的量”时,为可数名词;当表示“玻璃”时,则为不可数名词。例如:
Be careful with the glasses!
小心这些玻璃杯!
Drinking one or two glasses of milk a day is good for your health.
每天喝一两杯牛奶对你的健康有好处。
Alot of things are made of glass.
许多东西是由玻璃制成的。
He cut himself by a piece of broken glass.
他被一块碎玻璃划伤了。
需要注意的是,glass的复数形式glasses,还含有“眼镜”之意。例如:
Wearing a new pair of glasses, she can read easily.
戴了一副新眼鏡,她看书容易多了。
五、paper
paper,作“报纸,试卷、文件”解释时,为可数名词;而当作“纸,纸张”解释时,则为不可数名词。例如:
I’ll take these papers home and read them.
我会把这些报纸带回家看。
There were papers lying around the floor.
地板上到处都是文件。
The teacher gave out the exam papers.
老师分发了考试试卷。
Can I have some paper?
我可以拿些纸吗?
【练一练】
①我一年旅行三次,我并不觉得我这是在浪费时间。
I travel threea yea. I don’t think I’m wasting.
②她家只有两间房,没有地方给我们住。
There are only twoin her house, and there is nofor us to live in.
③桌子上有两张试卷,一支笔和一个文具盒。
There are two, a pen and a pencilbox on the desk.
④你喜欢吃鱼吗?这条湖里许多种鱼。
Would you like some? There are manyin this lake.
⑤请递给我一杯水,好吗?
Could you give me, please?
【参考答案】
①times;time
②rooms;room
③papers
④fish;fishes
⑤a glass of water