名詞pain的可數(shù)性問題
一、表示肉體上的“痛”“疼痛”
1. 可數(shù)性問題:此時可用作可數(shù)或不可數(shù)名詞。如:
This tooth is giving me pain. 這顆牙很疼。
Mary felt a sharp pain in her left arm. 瑪麗左臂感到一陣劇烈的疼痛。
Chest pains may be symptomatic of heart disease. 胸痛可能是心臟病的癥狀。注:由于可用可數(shù)或不可數(shù)名詞,所以有時在同一語境中用pain, a pain, pains都是可能的。如:
I have pain [a pain, pains] in my back. 我背疼。
2. 修飾語問題:用作不可數(shù)名詞,可用much, little等修飾;用作可數(shù)名詞時,可用many, few等修飾。如:
Was it possible to have so much pain that it could no longer hurt? 痛得很厲害以至不再感到疼痛,這種情況可能嗎?
After falling from a ladder, he had many physical aches and pains. 從梯子上摔下來以后他感到身上到處都痛。
3. 主謂一致問題:pain用作主語時,謂語肯定用單數(shù),這不是問題;當pains用作主語時,謂語通常用復數(shù)。如:
If the pains return phone the doctor. 如果疼痛再發(fā)作,打電話給醫(yī)生。
Her pains are mostly pure imagination. 他的疼痛多半純粹是想象出來的東西。
但是,有時也可用單數(shù)。如:
Growing pains refers to pains in the joints and muscles of growing children. 發(fā)育性疼痛乃指正在發(fā)育成長的兒童的關節(jié)和肌肉所感到的疼痛。
二、表示精神上的“痛苦”
1. 可數(shù)性問題:此時只用作不可數(shù)名詞,不用復數(shù)形式,也不與不定冠詞連用。如:
I could not stand the pain any longer. 我再也忍受不了這種痛苦了。
I hope you will forgive me if I have given you pain.如果我給了你痛苦,希望你原諒我。
2. 修飾語問題:通??捎胓reat, some, no, a great deal, much等修飾。如:
The memory of her mother’s illness caused her great pain. 想起媽媽的疾病她就感到痛苦。
His harsh words caused her much pain. 他說話很刺耳,她聽了很不舒服。
It gave us much pain to learn of the sad news. 聽到這個不幸的消息我們十分痛苦。
3. 主謂一致問題:由于不可數(shù),用作主語時,自然要用單數(shù)謂語。
三、表示“努力”“辛苦”
1. 可數(shù)性問題:此時總是用pains這樣的復數(shù)形式。如:
He had written the book with great pains. 他嘔心瀝血寫了這本書。
We must give him something for his pains. 我們必須給他點什么以便酬報他的辛勞。
2. 修飾語問題:此時pains雖為復數(shù)形式,但在選擇修飾語時,卻總是被視為不可數(shù)名詞,即不能用 many, few 等修飾,但可用 much, little等修飾。如:
Much pains, no gains. 辛勞無獲。
3. 主謂一致問題:用作主語時,謂語通常用復數(shù)。如:
The labour pains were unbearable. 體力勞動的辛苦讓人無法忍受。
Great pains have been taken to do this. 做這事費了不少苦心。
有趣的是,此時即使是用 much pains, little pains 等形式作主語,其謂語也通常用復數(shù)。
注:原來可用單數(shù)謂語,但在現(xiàn)代英語中已很少見。