英語(yǔ)中的集合名詞是經(jīng)常考查的一個(gè)考點(diǎn),它主要涉及集合名詞的可數(shù)性、單復(fù)數(shù)意義、主謂一致、恰當(dāng)?shù)男揎椪Z(yǔ)等.為了便于理解和記憶,我們將一些?？嫉募厦~分為以下幾類(lèi),并分別簡(jiǎn)述其有關(guān)用法特點(diǎn)：第一類(lèi) 形式為單數(shù),但意義可以用為單數(shù)或復(fù)數(shù) 這類(lèi)集合名詞包括family (家庭),team (隊(duì)),class (班),audience (聽(tīng)眾)等,其用法特點(diǎn)為：若視為整體,表示單數(shù)意義；若考慮其個(gè)體成員,表示復(fù)數(shù)意義.比較并體會(huì)：His family is large.他的家是個(gè)大家庭.His family are all waiting for him.他的一家人都在等他.This class consists of 45 pupils.這個(gè)班由45個(gè)學(xué)生組成.This class are reading English now.這個(gè)班的學(xué)生在讀英語(yǔ).第二類(lèi) 形式為單數(shù),但意義永遠(yuǎn)為復(fù)數(shù) 這類(lèi)集合名詞包括cattle(牛,牲畜),people(人),police(警察)等,其用法特點(diǎn)為：只有單數(shù)形式,但卻表示復(fù)數(shù)意義,用作主語(yǔ)時(shí)謂語(yǔ)用復(fù)數(shù)；不與 a(n) 連用,但可與the連用(表示總括意義和特指).如：People will laugh at you.人們會(huì)笑你的.The police are looking for him.警察在找他.Many cattle were killed for this.就因?yàn)檫@個(gè)原因宰了不少牲畜.注：表示牲畜的頭數(shù),用單位詞 head(單復(fù)數(shù)同形).如：five head of cattle 5頭牛,fifty (head of ) cattle 50頭牛 第三類(lèi) 形式為復(fù)數(shù),意義也為復(fù)數(shù) 這類(lèi)集合名詞包括goods(貨物),clothes(衣服)等,其用法特點(diǎn)是：只有復(fù)數(shù)形式(當(dāng)然也表示復(fù)數(shù)意義,用作主語(yǔ)時(shí)謂語(yǔ)也用復(fù)數(shù)),但通常不與數(shù)詞連用.如：Clothes dry slowly in the rainy season.衣服在雨季不易干.Such clothes are very expensive.那樣的衣服很貴.If goods are not well made you should complain to the manufacturer.如果貨物質(zhì)量不好,則理應(yīng)向制造商提出控訴.第四類(lèi) 形式為單數(shù),意義也為單數(shù) 這類(lèi)集合名詞包括baggage / luggage(行李),clothing(衣服),furniture(家具),machinery(機(jī)器),poetry(詩(shī)),scenery(風(fēng)景),jewelry(珠寶),equipment(設(shè)備)等,其用法特點(diǎn)為：是不可數(shù)名詞,只用單數(shù)形式,不用不定冠詞(當(dāng)然更不能用數(shù)詞),沒(méi)有復(fù)數(shù)形式.如：Our clothing protects us from [against] the cold.我們的衣服可以御寒.Have you checked all your baggage?你所有的行李都托運(yùn)了嗎?The thief stole all her jewelry.小偷把她所有的首飾都偷走了.The hospital has no decent equipment.這家醫(yī)院沒(méi)有像樣的設(shè)備.The Tang Dynasty is thought of as the high summer of Chinese poetry.人們認(rèn)為唐朝是中國(guó)詩(shī)歌的全盛時(shí)期.注：machinery,poetry,jewelry,scenery等相應(yīng)的個(gè)體可數(shù)名詞是 machine,poem,jewel,scene等.如：a poem / a piece of poetry 一首詩(shī) many machines / much machinery / many pieces of machinery 許多機(jī)器 第五類(lèi) 補(bǔ)充幾個(gè)?？嫉募厦~ 除上面提到的四類(lèi)集合名詞外,以下幾個(gè)集合名詞也應(yīng)重點(diǎn)注意(因?yàn)樗鼈円彩浅？伎键c(diǎn))：1.hair(頭發(fā),毛發(fā)) 指全部頭發(fā)或毛發(fā)時(shí),為集合名詞(不可數(shù))；指幾根頭發(fā)或毛發(fā)時(shí),為個(gè)體名詞(可數(shù)).如：My hair has grown very long.我的頭發(fā)已長(zhǎng)得很長(zhǎng)了.The police found two hairs there.警察在那兒找到了兩根頭發(fā).2.mankind(人類(lèi)) 是一個(gè)不可數(shù)的集合名詞,不用復(fù)數(shù)形式,也不連用冠詞.如：This is an invention that benefits mankind.這是一項(xiàng)造福人類(lèi)的發(fā)明.Mankind has its own problems.人類(lèi)有自己的問(wèn)題.注：mankind 表示“人(類(lèi))”時(shí),雖不可數(shù),但有時(shí)卻可以表示復(fù)數(shù)意義,尤其是當(dāng)其表語(yǔ)是復(fù)數(shù)時(shí).如：Mankind are intelligent animals.人是理智的動(dòng)物.3.fruit(水果) 作為集合名詞,它通常是不可數(shù)的.如：He doesn’t eat much fruit.他不大吃水果.He is growing fruit in the country.他在鄉(xiāng)下種水果.但是,當(dāng)要表示種類(lèi)時(shí),它可視為可數(shù)名詞,即a fruit 指一種水果,fruits 指多種水果.比較：Some fruits have thick skins.有些水果皮很厚.