下面我們就來看看在不同的情況下,名詞的單復數(shù)以及冠詞的使用。
名詞,可以分為“可數(shù)名詞”與“不可數(shù)名詞”兩種。
如果是可數(shù)名詞,那么首先考慮使用復數(shù)形式。例如:Today many students use computers to do homework.
其次,如果語境是想表達一個,并且任何一個都可以,則用不定冠詞 a 或 an。例如:Many parents choose to buy a computer as a birthday gift for their children.
如果語境是想表達特定的那一個,則用不定冠詞 the。例如:You can use the computer in the sitting room to surf the Internet.
切記,可數(shù)名詞不能“裸奔”,要有冠詞或者用復數(shù)形式。例如This policy has positive effect on companies這樣的句子就是錯誤的,因為effect是可數(shù)名詞,這里出現(xiàn)了“裸奔”的情況??梢愿某桑篢his policy has a positive effect on companies. 或This policy has positive effects on companies.
需要注意的是,可數(shù)名詞有時會出現(xiàn)在介詞后面,有可能是詞組搭配,此時該名詞前不需要加冠詞。例如:at university/school; by car等等。
另外,可數(shù)名詞復數(shù)的前面通常不需要加定冠詞,除非是特指。有些小“烤鴨”們喜歡這樣做,覺得冠詞和復數(shù)都用上,就能“萬無一失”,實則是很有問題的。例如:Learning can be personalised to help the students.這個句子里的the students就是不恰當?shù)模驗檫@里所說的學生并非特指哪一些學生。可以改成:Learning can be personalised to help students.或Learning can be personalised to help the students with learning difficulties.改正的第二個句子里的students因為后面有了介詞短語做修飾,指那些“有學習障礙的學生”,是特指,因此前面加上定冠詞the才比較準確。
說完了可數(shù)名詞的情況,我們再來看看不可數(shù)名詞是怎樣的呢?
首先,不可數(shù)名詞不用復數(shù)形式。例如句子Some young people can receive trainings就是錯的,因為training是不可數(shù)名詞,應改為Some young people can receive training.
其次,不可數(shù)名詞不加不定冠詞 a 或 an。例如句子It is difficult to find a full-time employment就是不對的,因為employment是不可數(shù)名詞,應改為It is difficult to find full-time employment或It is difficult to find a full-time job,job是可數(shù)名詞,前面可以加不定冠詞a。
最后,不可數(shù)名詞一般不用定冠詞 the。例如句子We can acquire the knowledge by reading books,這句話里的knowledge并不特指是哪些知識,什么知識,所以不用加the來特指,可以改為We can acquire knowledge by reading books. 當然,如果特指是什么knowledge,可以在前面加定冠詞the,例如:We can acquire the knowledge about history by reading books.
總而言之,大家在雅思寫作中要多注意名詞的單復數(shù)以及冠詞的使用問題,避免犯這類基礎的語法錯誤,才能堅實地邁出通往高分的第一步。