man,mankind這對詞都表示“人類”的意思,但用法有所區(qū)別.man一般以單數(shù)形式出現(xiàn)（現(xiàn)在也有人以復(fù)數(shù)men表示“人類”）,其前不能置任何限定詞,其相應(yīng)的代詞應(yīng)是he,him,his,himself.例如：The changes between the states have been used by man to work for him since ancient times.自古以來,人類就利用這兩種狀態(tài)的變化為自己服務(wù).Engels pointed out a hundred years ago that labour created man himself.恩格斯一百多年以前就指出,勞動創(chuàng)造了人類本身.mankind前也不可加任何限定詞,但可用形容詞修飾.它是集合名詞,可作單數(shù)或復(fù)數(shù)使用.作單數(shù)概念時,謂語要用單數(shù),其相應(yīng)的代詞一般為it,its,itself(也有人用he ,him,his,himself);作復(fù)數(shù)概念時,謂語要用復(fù)數(shù),其相應(yīng)的代詞是they,them,their,themselves.例如：Mankind is much cleverer than it was one thousand years ago.人類比一千年前是聰明多了.All progressive mankind love peace.所有進步人類都熱愛和平.That is one small step for a man,but one giant leap for mankind.對于個人來說那是小小的一步,但對于整個人類來說卻是一次巨大的飛越.請注意：human being也可表示“人類”,它是可數(shù)名詞,有單復(fù)數(shù)之分.其意義比較具體,它一般用來區(qū)別人以外的事物,特別是動物或者是“神”,“鬼”之類.例如：Without its light and warmth there would be neither plants nor animals nor human beings.沒有光和熱,就不可能有植物,動物,也不可能有人類.Although the Negroes were human beings just like the whites,they were not treated as humanbeing.盡管黑人和白人一樣都是屬于人類,但是他們并沒有被當(dāng)作人對待.
human being是可數(shù)名詞,指生物學(xué)意義上的無等級區(qū)分的“人”,區(qū)別于動物或神鬼等.
例如：How long can a human being go without food?
people指的是社會性的人,而不是自然性的人.它代表的是有某種共同社會屬性的一群“human beings”.
例如：There were 120 people at the lecture.
理論上說human being與people不會有相同的意思,你碰到的情況可能是二者用任意一個都可以,所以給你human being的意思與people相近的印象.但就算有這種情況,people的意思應(yīng)該更靠近human being,而不是human being有people那種“人們”的意思.
mankind前不可加任何限定詞,但可用形容詞修飾.它是集合名詞,可作單數(shù)或復(fù)數(shù)使用.作單數(shù)概念時,謂語要用單數(shù),其相應(yīng)的代詞一般為it,its,itself(也有人用he ,him,his,himself);作復(fù)數(shù)概念時,謂語要用復(fù)數(shù),其相應(yīng)的代詞是they,them,their,themselves.例如：Mankind is much cleverer than it was one thousand years ago.人類比一千年前是聰明多了.All progressive mankind love peace.所有進步人類都熱愛和平.That is one small step for a man,but one giant leap for mankind.對于個人來說那是小小的一步,但對于整個人類來說卻是一次巨大的飛越.
human being也可表示“人類”,它是可數(shù)名詞,有單復(fù)數(shù)之分.其意義比較具體,它一般用來區(qū)別人以外的事物,特別是動物或者是“神”,“鬼”之類.例如：Without its light and warmth there would be neither plants nor animals nor human beings.沒有光和熱,就不可能有植物,動物,也不可能有人類.Although the Negroes were human beings just like the whites,they were not treated as humanbeing.盡管黑人和白人一樣都是屬于人類,但是他們并沒有被當(dāng)作人對待.
human 和human being有什么區(qū)別?
有以下區(qū)別：
（一）human強調(diào)“人群”,human being強調(diào)“個人”,
基本上 human = human beings ,但不可以說 human = human being
（二）在一些慣用的表達,兩者不能互換,例如疾病的“人傳人”叫human to human transmission,但不可以說 human being to human being transmission.
（三）human可以做形容詞,human being不可以.