美國文化脫口秀 第380期:英語量詞你會用嗎?
關(guān)鍵詞：
中英文量詞的區(qū)別
measure word: 量詞
Chinese meansure words are very specific, i.e. many can be only used to describe a certain type of thing: 中文的量詞比較特定，不同的量詞對應(yīng)不同的東西
Measure words in English aren't as specific as Chinese: 英語的量詞沒有中文那么特定
But because they're more general, using them appropriately might be challenging: 但是因為比較寬泛，所以要恰當(dāng)使用也不那么容易
美國人最愛用的量詞：a dozen
A dozen: 一打
A dozen means 12:一打表示12個
Eggs are most commonly bought by the dozen: 最常用來形容雞蛋
A dozen eggs: 一盒雞蛋
We wouldn't call it a box of eggs: 英語里不會說一盒蛋，而是說一打雞蛋
You can also buy half a dozen eggs: 也可以買小盒的，半打
Half a dozen or a half dozen?
Both are correct: 兩種說法都是正確的
Dozens can also be used in the plural form: 打還可以變成復(fù)數(shù)
Dozens of people: 好多人(幾十個)
Dozens of options: 許多的選擇
Dozens究竟是多少?
Since English doesn't really have a word for "tens", dozens is used to express the idea:由于英語沒有一個詞表明“幾十”，所以dozens用來形容幾十這個數(shù)量
"Dozens" is the next step down from hundreds: “dozens”代表幾十個，再上去就是幾百個
最浪漫的量詞：a couple
現(xiàn)在常說的“CP", 就是couple. 不過美國人可不會說“CP", 這是有亞洲特色的英語。
A couple
A couple: 兩個，也是一對戀人、愛人的意思
A couple到底是幾個?
Strictly speaking, "a couple" means 2: 嚴(yán)格來說，a couple是兩個
A couple of pens: 兩支筆
A couple of cups: 兩個杯子
But in everyday conversations, it could also mean several, a few: 但是日常口語里，它也能指幾個、多個
Let's get a couple of tomatoes: 我們買幾個番茄
Let's get a couple of apples: 我們買幾個蘋果
It really depends on the context: 具體的數(shù)量，還是要通過語境分析
A few
This is a word everyone learns early on: 這個詞大家應(yīng)該是最早學(xué)到的
注意語法
A few___ 不是 a few of ___
Most measure words are followed by "of" but "few" is an exception: 量詞通常都用“of”鏈接后面的名詞，但“a few”是個例外(few同理)
"a few pens", not "a few of pens": 是 few pens,而不是a few of pens
但是有例外
The only time you use "a few of" is when you're not being specific: 當(dāng) a few后面跟的不是具體事物時，要加of。比如:
a few of these
a few of those
a few of us
英語量詞你會用嗎?
做菜必備量詞: a pinch, a handful
Measure words used in cooking/recipes 做菜、菜譜常用的量詞
A pinch: 一小撮
Add a pinch of salt, a pinch of pepper: 加一小撮鹽、一小撮胡椒
A handful: 一把
A handful of nuts: 一把堅果
More measure words for cooking 更多做菜時常用的量詞
A spoonful: 一勺
A table spoon of: 一湯匙
A tea spoon of: 一茶匙
形容大數(shù)量的量詞
A ton of: 美國人最愛用
Americans love using the word "a ton": 美國人非常愛用“a ton"這個詞
An actual ton is 1000kg: 這個詞確切的重量是一噸、1000公斤
Canadians spell the word as "tonne": 加拿大人的拼法是tonne
In spoken English, a ton means "a lot": 口語里，a ton的意思是很多、大量的
A ton of homework": 很多作業(yè)
A ton of work: 很多工作
Ton in the plural form: ton也能當(dāng)復(fù)數(shù)
Most common use of "tons": tons最常見的用法
We had tons of fun at the party: 派對真好玩兒
There are tons of people in Shanghai Disney: 上海迪士尼人爆多
*Instead of saying "people mountain people sea", you should say "tons of people": 以后別再說“people mountain people sea"這個錯誤的老梗了，大家跟我說“tons of people"
Versatile measure words 百搭量詞
A bunch: 一捆、一堆、一群
A bunch of flowers: 一束花
A bunch of carrots: 一捆胡蘿卜
A bunch of people: 一群人(幾個到十幾個的范圍，沒有幾十個那么多)
A bunch of money: 一些錢 (不是太多、也不是太少)
A pile：一堆
A pile of work: 一堆工作，通常形容堆積了很多
* You can't use pile to describe people: 不能說”a pile of people"
特定量詞一：動物
There are really specific measure words for animals: 英語里形容動物的量詞是最特定的
A school of fish: 一群魚
A flock of birds: 一群鳥
A pride of lions: 一群獅子
特定量詞二：食物
Food also has very specific measure words: 食物也有特定對應(yīng)的量詞
A piece or slice of toast: 一片面包
A loaf of bread: 一條面包 ，切片面包組成的一長條
A baguette, not a loaf of baguette: 不過法棍是個例外，直接說a baguette, 不是a loaf of baguette
A cup of coffee: 一杯咖啡
A bowl of oatmeal: 一碗麥片
A box of cereal: 一盒早餐谷物
