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名词pain的可数性问题

2016-08-09来源:和谐英语

名词pain的可数性问题 

一、表示肉体上的“”“疼痛

1. 可数性问题:此时可用作可数或不可数名词。如:

This tooth is giving me pain. 这颗牙很疼。

Mary felt a sharp pain in her left arm. 玛丽左臂感到一阵剧烈的疼痛。

Chest pains may be symptomatic of heart disease. 胸痛可能是心脏病的症状。注:由于可用可数或不可数名词,所以有时在同一语境中用pain, a pain, pains都是可能的。如:

I have pain [a pain, pains] in my back. 我背疼。

2. 修饰语问题:用作不可数名词,可用much, little等修饰;用作可数名词时,可用many, few等修饰。如:

Was it possible to have so much pain that it could no longer hurt? 痛得很厉害以至不再感到疼痛,这种情况可能吗?

After falling from a ladder, he had many physical aches and pains. 从梯子上摔下来以后他感到身上到处都痛。

3. 主谓一致问题:pain用作主语时,谓语肯定用单数,这不是问题;当pains用作主语时,谓语通常用复数。如:

If the pains return phone the doctor. 如果疼痛再发作,打电话给医生。

Her pains are mostly pure imagination. 他的疼痛多半纯粹是想象出来的东西。

但是,有时也可用单数。如:

Growing pains refers to pains in the joints and muscles of growing children. 发育性疼痛乃指正在发育成长的儿童的关节和肌肉所感到的疼痛。

二、表示精神上的“痛苦”

1. 可数性问题:此时只用作不可数名词,不用复数形式,也不与不定冠词连用。如:

I could not stand the pain any longer. 我再也忍受不了这种痛苦了。

I hope you will forgive me if I have given you pain.如果我给了你痛苦,希望你原谅我。

2. 修饰语问题:通常可用great, some, no, a great deal, much等修饰。如:

The memory of her mother’s illness caused her great pain. 想起妈妈的疾病她就感到痛苦。

His harsh words caused her much pain. 他说话很刺耳,她听了很不舒服。

It gave us much pain to learn of the sad news. 听到这个不幸的消息我们十分痛苦。

3. 主谓一致问题:由于不可数,用作主语时,自然要用单数谓语。

三、表示“努力”“辛苦”

1. 可数性问题:此时总是用pains这样的复数形式。如:

He had written the book with great pains. 他呕心沥血写了这本书。

We must give him something for his pains. 我们必须给他点什么以便酬报他的辛劳。

2. 修饰语问题:此时pains虽为复数形式,但在选择修饰语时,却总是被视为不可数名词,即不能用 many, few 等修饰,但可用 much, little等修饰。如:

Much pains, no gains. 辛劳无获。

3. 主谓一致问题:用作主语时,谓语通常用复数。如:

The labour pains were unbearable. 体力劳动的辛苦让人无法忍受。

Great pains have been taken to do this. 做这事费了不少苦心。

有趣的是,此时即使是用 much pains, little pains 等形式作主语,其谓语也通常用复数。

注:原来可用单数谓语,但在现代英语中已很少见。