浅议集体名词的单复数
■崔长平 河南遂平一高（463100）
在英语中，集体名词本身的单、复数形式及集体名词在句中用作单数还是复数，往往由于词义、词类的变化、可数与不可数等因素而相互有所不同，但还是有规律可循的。
一．集体名词本身的单、复数形式。
（1）只有单数形式，没有复数形式。常见的有：police ，mankind ，cattle ，people （人），militia ，society ，the public ，the world 等。一般来说，集体名词多以单数形式出现。有些语法称这类没有复数形式的集体名词为“无限集体名词（unlimited collective noun.）”。
（2）即有单数形式，又有复数形式。常见的有：party —parties ，class —classes ，family —families ， crowd —crowds ，group —groups ，committee —committees 等。但无论是单数形式还是复数形式均未改变其集体名词的词类。它们可称为“有限集体名词（ limited collective noun.）”
二．集体名词在句中用作单数还是复数？
（1）多数表示有生命的集体名词常作复数用。
Several hundred police were on duty last night.
Many cattle are kept on the farm.
The militia were called out to guard the borderland.
The enemy were forced to retreat.
Their present staff number 1500.
（2）有些集体名词只作单数用。
New machinery was introduced in this country.
There isn’t much furniture in the room.
（3）有些集体名词如：class ，family ，the world ，the public ，government ，team ，audience ，committee ，couple ，crew 等， 如看作整体的就作单数用，如被看作组成该集体的各个成员时就作复数用。 ①The audience is enormous.
The audience were enjoying every minute of the play.
②The class is big.
The class are taking notes in English.
③My family was small.
His family are all walking on the lawn.
（4）有些集体名词通常都用作单数，表示整体。但如表示“若干个„„ ；若干种„„”等意义时，则需要使用复数形式。如：
①His hair is gray.
He had a few white hairs.
②The fruit is ripening.
She likes pears, peaches, and other juicy fruits.
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浅议集体名词的单复数
■崔长平 河南遂平一高（463100）
在英语中，集体名词本身的单、复数形式及集体名词在句中用作单数还是复数，往往由于词义、词类的变化、可数与不可数等因素而相互有所不同，但还是有规律可循的。
一．集体名词本身的单、复数形式。
（1）只有单数形式，没有复数形式。常见的有：police ，mankind ，cattle ，people （人），militia ，society ，the public ，the world 等。一般来说，集体名词多以单数形式出现。有些语法称这类没有复数形式的集体名词为“无限集体名词（unlimited collective noun.）”。
（2）即有单数形式，又有复数形式。常见的有：party —parties ，class —classes ，family —families ， crowd —crowds ，group —groups ，committee —committees 等。但无论是单数形式还是复数形式均未改变其集体名词的词类。它们可称为“有限集体名词（ limited collective noun.）”
二．集体名词在句中用作单数还是复数？
（1）多数表示有生命的集体名词常作复数用。
Several hundred police were on duty last night.
Many cattle are kept on the farm.
The militia were called out to guard the borderland.
The enemy were forced to retreat.
Their present staff number 1500.
（2）有些集体名词只作单数用。
New machinery was introduced in this country.
There isn’t much furniture in the room.
（3）有些集体名词如：class ，family ，the world ，the public ，government ，team ，audience ，committee ，couple ，crew 等， 如看作整体的就作单数用，如被看作组成该集体的各个成员时就作复数用。 ①The audience is enormous.
The audience were enjoying every minute of the play.
②The class is big.
The class are taking notes in English.
③My family was small.
His family are all walking on the lawn.
（4）有些集体名词通常都用作单数，表示整体。但如表示“若干个„„ ；若干种„„”等意义时，则需要使用复数形式。如：
①His hair is gray.
He had a few white hairs.
②The fruit is ripening.
She likes pears, peaches, and other juicy fruits.
1