① a great many和a good many同義,意為“許多”,是many的強調(diào)形式,只能作定語,后跟復數(shù)可數(shù)名詞。
I have been to the city
a great many times. 我曾多次到過那個城市。
He has worked here for
a good many years. 他在這里工作已經(jīng)很多年了。
② a number of意為“許多,一些”,后跟復數(shù)可數(shù)名詞。表示強調(diào)時,可以說a great/large/good number of或quite a number of。number還可用small,big修飾。a number of多用于肯定句,在疑問句或否定句中要用many。
Quite a number of students are on the sports ground. 操場上有許多學生。(不可說a quite number of)
A great/large/good number of people have come to the party. 許多人都來參加這個晚會。
③ 下面幾個短語后可以跟不可數(shù)名詞或復數(shù)可數(shù)名詞:
plenty of money/books 許多錢/書
a large quantity of water/trees 大量的水/樹
④ a great/good deal of一般修飾不可數(shù)名詞,但偶爾也修飾可數(shù)名詞。
There is
a great deal of oxygen in the air. 空氣中有大量氧氣。
They have spent
a great deal of money on the project. 他們在這項工程上花費了大量資金。
⑤ a great amount of,a large amount of和a small amount of后跟不可數(shù)名詞,不可跟可數(shù)名詞。
He spent
a great amount of time reading these books. 他讀這些書花了很多時間。
He sent her
a small amount of money. 他給她寄了一小筆錢。