问英语｜英语常见问题解答

问

success 是不可数的抽象名词, 它为什么会以 a success 和 successes 的形式出现呢?

答

抽象名词有一种所谓“抽象名词具体化”的用法。在这种用法下，该名词指的不是它所表达概念的整体（全部内涵和外延），而是一个具体的实例[一次，一阵，一番或多个实例（多个，多次)]。例如：

抽象用法具体用法 success(成功) a success(一个成功的事) successes(多个成功的事) study(研究) a study(研究论文,研究报告,一项具体的研究) pleasure(快乐,愉快) a pleasure(一件高兴的事) kindness(仁慈,友好) a kindness(一件好事,帮一次忙) honour(荣誉,光荣) an honour(一个光荣的人或一个光荣的事)

练习

Her little shop is a great success, although she didn't have much business experience.
1. A
  Her shop is too small to be very successful.
2. B
  Her business experience will help her to succeed.
3. C
  She never ran a shop before, but she's doing well anyway.
4. D
  She was busy buying what she needed for her new job. (TOEFL)
Nobel Prizes are the ____.
1. A
  height of world prestigious honors
2. B
  world's most prestigious honors
3. C
  honors of the world's highest prestige
4. D
  prestige with the most honor in the world (TOEFL)
It was an ordinary picture but he ____ it.
1. A
  did a careful study of
2. B
  made a careful study of
3. C
  did a careful study from
4. D
  made a careful study from(Nelson, 400B)
“Isn’t he a great scholar?” “Yes, of course. I had the pleasure ____ him.”
1. A
  to meet
2. B
  of meeting
3. C
  at meeting
4. D
  to meeting (TOEFL)
  
  (参见 hope/hopes)