名詞的分類和限定詞(determiners)的用法
1. 名詞的分類
| 具體的名詞 (concrete nouns) | 普通名詞 (common noun) | boy, dog, book, city 等 | 可數名詞 (countable nouns) |
| 集合名詞 (collective noun) | family, committee, audience, staff 等 | ||
| 物質名詞 (material noun) | metal, wood, rice, gas, rain 等 | 不可數名詞 (uncountable nouns) | |
| 專有名詞 (proper noun) | William Shakespeare, Paris, China Airlines, Monday, Christmas 等 | ||
| 抽象的名詞 (abstract nouns) | 抽象名詞 (abstract noun) | kindness, honesty, advice, friendship 等 |
注意，上面分類表只是原則，實際使用時，還是有少許例外。這個分類表分得很詳細，但是，一般字典只會標示 [U] (uncountable)不可數名詞，或 [C] (countable) 可數名詞。然而，更正確的說法應該是某一個單字的不可數用法和可數用法，因為許多單字在某一個定義解釋是可數用法，但是另一個定義解釋就變成不可數用法。甚至，不少單字是同時標示[U] (uncountable)不可數名詞和 [C] (countable) 可數名詞。
2.名詞和冠詞、數量詞、數字、及複數的關係
下表是可數名詞和不可數名詞與冠詞、數量詞、數字、複數的關係
| cake可作不可數名詞和可數名詞 | bottle 是可數名詞 | bread 是不可數名詞 | John 是專有名詞 | |
| 不加任何冠詞 | cake | *bottle (×) | bread | John |
| 定冠詞 (the) | the cake | the bottle | the bread | *the John (×) |
| 不定冠詞 (a; an) | a cake | a bottle | *a bread (×) | *a John (×) |
| 不定數量詞 | some cake | *some bottle (×) | some bread | *some John (×) |
| 數字 | two cakes | three bottles | *four breads (×) | *two Johns (×) |
| 複數 | cakes | bottles | *breads (×) | *Johns (×) |
註: 標記*為錯誤的用法。
3. 普通名詞因為最常見也最常用，所以用下表條列它的用法:
| 單數普通名詞 | 複數普通名詞 | |
| 一般用法 |
前面要加
a (an)
或 the A tiger / The tiger is a dangerous animal. |
前面不需要加冠詞 Tigers are dangerous animals. |
| 不定的用法 |
前面要加不定冠詞
a (an) 或某些限定詞
(determiners)例如
this, any等 My brother bought a camera. You can borrow any book you like. |
前面不需要加冠詞 They are students. It happened centuries ago. He worked for hours. |
| 特定的用法 |
限定某一個，前面要加定冠詞
the The book on the desk belongs to me. (限定放在桌上的那本書) The woman whom I spoke to is my secretary. (限定是那位跟我講話的女士) |
前面要加定冠詞
the The flowers in the vase are roses. (限定放在花瓶裡面的那些花) The boys who are playing over there are my classmates. (限定是那些在那裡玩的男孩們) |
| 抽象用法 |
前面加定冠詞
the The pen is mightier than the sword. |
X |
| 修飾的用法 |
作形容詞用 Will the bus stop at the next bus stop? My mum gives me $5 a week pocket money. |
X |
Note1: 由上表可知，用普通名詞指同類的全體時，有三種方法:
(1) a (an) + 單數
Ex. A horse is a useful animal.
(2) the + 單數
Ex. The horse is a useful animal.
(3) 複數 (無冠詞)
Ex. Horses are useful animals.
4. 限定詞 (determiners)的定義和分類: 限定詞指the, a, my, this, some, either, every, enough, several等字。限定詞放在名詞前面，但並不當作形容詞用。例如: the moon, this house, every week, a nice day, some problems, enough trouble, several young students等。
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第一類限定詞:
幫忙釐清事物，說明說話者要指涉的是哪一個 |
第二類限定詞 數量詞 (quantifiers)，表示我們說的事物是多少、有多少 |
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冠詞類 (articles):
a, an, the |
some, any, no each, every, either, neither much, many, more, most; (a) little, less, least, a few, fewer, fewest, enough, several all, both, half what, whatever, which, whichever one, two, three, other |
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所有格 (possessives):
my, your, his, her, its, our, their, one's, whose |
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指示代名詞
(demonstratives): this, these, that, those |
Note1: 第二類限定詞可以直接用在名詞前面，不可以加of。
Ex. Have you got any sugar? [不能用... any of sugar.(×)]
Ex. Most people agree with me. [不能用 Most of people...(×)]
Note2: 如果把第二類限定詞放在含有第一類限定詞的名詞前面，我們必須加上 of。
Ex. some
people
Ex.
some of the people
[不能用 some of people(×)]
Ex. each
child
Ex.
each of
my child [不能用 each of child(×)]
Ex. most
shops
Ex.
most
of the shops [不能用 most of shops(×)]
Ex. six
green apples
Ex.
six of
the green apples [不能用 six of green apples(×)]
Note3: each, every, either,和 neither直接用在名詞前面，不可以加of。
Ex. each
tree
Ex. each of
the trees
[不能用 each of trees(×)]
Ex. neither
partner
Ex. neither of
the partners
[不能用 neither of partners(×)]
Note: 如果不太確定名詞的不可數用法和可數用法，請查字典並且詳讀例句。對初學者來說，寫一篇200字段落的文章，查字典50次應該不為過。
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