抽象名詞表示“……的人或事”
當抽象名詞當表示“……的人或事”時,已轉化為具體名詞,此時是可數的。如:
■success和failure作為抽象名詞,其意為“成功”和“失敗”,不可數。如:
Failure is the mother of success. 失敗是成功之母。
但轉化為具體名詞后,其意為“成功的人(事)”和“失敗的人(或事)”,為可數名詞。如:
He was a failure as a teacher, but was really a success as an actor. 他是個不稱職的老師,但卻的確是一個成功的演員。
Of her plays, three were successes and one was a failure. 她的劇作有三部成功,一部失敗。
■disappointment作為抽象名詞,其意為“失望”,不可數。如:
Her face showed disappointment. 她臉上現出失望的神情。
但轉化為具體名詞后,其意為“令人失望的人(事)”,為可數名詞。如:
I always felt I was a disappointment to my father. 我總覺得我讓父親失望了。
To tell the truth, the film was a great disappointment to me. 說實在的,那部影片使我大為失望。
■surprise 作為抽象名詞,其意為“驚奇”“吃驚”,不可數。如:
His face showed surprise at the news. 他聽到這個消息時臉上露出吃驚的神色。
但轉化為具體名詞后,其意為“使人驚奇的事或東西”,為可數名詞。如:
What a surprise to see you here! 真想不到在這里見到你!
We had some unpleasant surprises. 我們得到了一些令人不愉快的意外消息。
■pleasure作為抽象名詞,其意為“愉快”“高興”“快樂”等,不可數。如:
It gave me great pleasure to watch them. 觀看它們使我很高興。
但轉化為具體名詞后,其意為“一種快樂(榮幸等)”“快樂(榮幸等)的事”,為可數名詞。如:
It’s been a pleasure to be able to help you. 能夠幫助你是一種榮幸。
It’s such a great pleasure that you are here. 你在這里是非常令人高興的事。
注:有些抽象名詞轉化為具體名詞而可數時,不是表示“……的人或事”,而是表示“某種類型的……”“不同人或多個人的……”“……的數量”等。如:death作為抽象名詞,其意為“死”,不可數。如:
Death comes to all men. 人皆有一死。
Food poisoning can cause death. 食物中毒可導致死亡。
但轉化為具體名詞后,其意為“某種類型的死”“具體的死亡人數”“不同人或多個人的死亡”等,為可數名詞。如:
When we die for the people it is a worthy death. 為人民而死,死得其所。
There have been more deaths from drowning. 溺水死亡人數有所增加。
A bad driver was responsible for their deaths. 他們的死是個技術不佳的司機造成的。