第6章 数词和量词 6.4 量 词
6.4 量 词
6.4.1 量词范围
量词（Quantifiers）不是一种词类，而是许多与数量有关的词和短语，它们包含：
1) 许多与数量有关的代词和限定词，如some，any，much，many等。
2) 各种数词，如two，half，a third，80%等。
3) 名词和of构成的表数量的短语，如a lot of，plenty of等。
4) 某些与数量有关的形容词，如enough，whole，half等。
5) 某些与数量有关的名词，如feet，miles，years，dozen等。
6) 某些与数量有关的合成词，如a five-dollar bill，a 6-page summary等。
7) 某些与数量有关词组的所有格，如two months' stay，four weeks' notice等。
下面将简要地加以处理。
6.4.2 与数量有关的代词和限定词
1) 有很多作定语的代词和限定词，特别是不定代词和相关限定词，可用来表示数量：
How much rent do you pay? 你交多少房租？
Few words are best. （谚）少说为妙。
Many hands make light work. （谚）人多好办事。
This might serve several purposes. 这也许能达到几个目的。
2) 这类代词也可作主语、宾语等，表示数量：
a. 主语：
Most of the people have fled. 大多数人都逃跑了。
None of us are surprised. 我们谁也不感到吃惊。
Many a little makes a mickle. （谚）集腋成裘。
b. 宾语或介词的宾语：
He ate a little before going out. 他外出前吃了一点东西。
I don't know much about psychology. 我对心理学不太懂。
A friend to all is a friend to none. （谚）滥交者无友。
关于这类词，详见第5.6.5—5.7.7节。
6.4.3 由“名词+of”构成的量词
1) 这类量词为数很多，它们都加在所修饰词前面：
A lot of people have the same experience. 大量的人有同样的经历。
I have lived here quite a number of years. 我在这里住了许多年了。
She had plenty of imagination. 她有丰富的想像力。
We need a sufficient amount of flour. 我们需要足够量的面粉。
A good many of them are beginners. 他们很多人都是初学者。
He lost a great quantity of blood. 他失血很多。
We walked a couple of miles. 我们步行了二三英里。
She had a heap of trouble. 她有很多麻烦事。
I have a ton of work to do before I leave. 我走之前有大量工作要做。
She bears a load of anxiety. 她忧心忡忡。
I've a mass of things to see to this morning. 今天上午我有很多事要办。
有些这类名词可用复数形式，强调数量之多：
Numbers of people came to the meeting. 与会者人数众多。
We've had quantities of rain this summer. 今年夏天下了大量的雨。
I've got tons of letters to write. 我有好多好多的信要写。
She bought lots of food. 她买了大量的食物。
That man seems to have heaps of money. 那个人似乎钱多的不得了。
There are masses of people in the hall. 大厅里有好多人。
2) 有些这类量词表示“少量的”：
She is just out to do a bit of shopping. 她只是出来买点东西。
He put a pinch of salt in his soup. 他在汤里放了一点点盐。
She has a touch of cold. 她略微有点感冒。
A dash of vinegar might help the salad. 生菜里加一点醋也许更好吃。
Have a spot of tea. 喝一点茶吧。
There's not a shred of evidence that he took the money. 没有丝毫证据表明钱是他拿的。
There is a grain of truth in his assertion. 他的话有一点真实性。
There was a trace of jealousy in her voice. 她的声音里有一丝妒忌情绪。
There is not a speck of truth in his claim. 他的话毫无真实之处。
Will you have a drop of brandy? 你要不要喝一点点白兰地？
3) 有些这类量词与形状有关：
I need a ball of string. 我需要一团线。
He was sucking a stick of toffee. 他在吮吸一根棒糖。
The president was surrounded by a ring of bodyguards. 总统身边围着一圈保镖。
There is a strip of sticky tape round the lid. 盖子周边有一条胶带。
A shaft of sunlight brightened the room. 一道阳光照亮了房间。
Elli brought a bunch of flowers. 艾丽带来了一束花。
A thread of light emerged from the keyhole. 从钥匙孔透进一丝亮光。
A goat has a tuft of hair on its chin. 山羊下巴上长有一撮胡须。
A wall of fire stood before them. 他们面前有一堵火墙。
There was a gush of blood as his wound re-opened. 他的伤口重开时血流如注。
A loud gust of laughter came from the next room. 从隔壁房间传来一阵笑声。
The fountain sent up a jet of water. 喷泉喷出一根水柱。
Streams of people were coming out of the railway station. 一股股人流从车站涌出。
She attacked him with a torrent of abuse. 她对他一阵谩骂。
A shower of stones greeted him. 石头雨点般地向他砸来。
Clouds of smoke rose from the bombed city. 挨炸的城市升起团团浓烟。
There might still be a ray of hope. 可能还有一线希望。
She has a mountain of dirty clothes to wash. 她有一大堆脏衣服要洗。
4) 还有不少量词表示一群人（a）或动物（b）：
a. A group of students asked to see the principal. 有一群学生要见校长。
The discovery was made by a team of scientists. 这是由一组科学家发现的。
A gang of workers were repairing the road. 一伙工人在修马路。
You're behaving like a bunch of idiots. 你们的举动像一群白痴。
A company of travellers are expected to arrive soon. 一批游客预计不久就要到来。
A troupe of acrobats entertained them. 一群杂技演员为他们作了表演。
We met a host of students. 我们碰到了一大群学生。
A strange collection of people attended the party. 一伙稀奇古怪的人参加了这个聚会。
She's always surrounded by swarms of photographers. 她身边总是围着一大群摄影师。
A pack of angry shoppers demanded their money back. 一群生气的顾客要求退钱。
b. A flock of sheep blocked the road. 一群绵羊挡住了道路。
The lion was chasing a herd of deer. 那头狮子在追逐一群鹿。
A pack of hounds chased the fox. 一群猎犬在追赶狐狸。
We saw a pride of lions resting by the stream. 我们看见一群狮子在溪边休息。
A swarm of locusts destroyed the crop. 一大群蝗虫毁坏了庄稼。
Electronic detectors tracked down schools of fish. 电子探测器追踪到了鱼群。
A flight of ducks passed overhead. 一群鸭子从头上飞过。
A cloud of mosquitoes came over. 一大群蚊子飞了过来。
5) 还有许多这类量词与容器有关：
a bottle of beer 一瓶啤酒
a box of chocolate 一盒巧克力
a can of soup 一个汤罐头
a bowl of rice 一碗饭
a cup of tea 一杯茶
a basket of fruit 一篮水果
a bucket of water 一桶水
a sack of corn 一袋玉米
a bag of toffees 一袋太妃糖
a crate of bananas 一筐香蕉
a glass of fruit juice 一杯果汁
a mug of milk 一大杯奶
a packet of cigarettes 一包香烟
a pot of jam 一锅果酱
a spoon of sugar 一匙白糖
a tube of toothpaste 一管牙膏
a barrel of oil 一桶石油
a carton of yoghurt 一（纸）盒酸奶
a jar of marmalade 一罐橘子酱
a pack of gum 一小包口香糖
a plate of beef 一盘牛肉
a package of detergent 一包洗涤剂
有些名词后可加词尾-ful来表示数量：
a spoonful of vinegar 一勺醋
a basketful of peaches 一筐桃子
a handful of raisins 一把葡萄干
a mouthful of food 一口食物
an armful of flowers 一捧花
a houseful of guests 一屋子客人
a busful of children 一车孩子
a roomful of antiques 一房间的古董
6.4.4 一些与数量有关的词
1) 一些与数量有关的形容词：
有不少形容词与数量有关：
The thesis was about two hundred pages long. 这篇论文约有两百页长。
The tree is a hundred feet tall. 那棵树有一百英尺高。
The road is 8 metres wide. 这条马路有八米宽。
The lake there is eight feet deep. 那里的湖有八英尺深。
The river is 30 feet broad. 这条河宽三十英尺。
The outer wall is twelve feet thick. 外墙厚十二英尺。
The building is over thirty stories high. 这座大楼有三十多层高。
2) 一些与数量有关的名词：
a. 有许多单位名称经常和数词连用表示数量：
It weighs over 200 kilos. 它重二百多公斤。
The temperature rose ten degrees. 气温上升了十度。
There are sixteen ounces in one pound. 一英磅有十六英两。
A pint of liquid is about four cupfuls. 一品脱约有四杯。
Will two yards of dress material be enough? 两码衣料够了吗？
It travels thousands of miles per second. 它一秒钟能走几千英里。
b. 也有些名词和in连用，表示数量：
The snow is two feet in depth. 雪有两尺厚。
He was about five feet in height. 他身高约五英尺。
The island is only 4 square kilometres in area. 这座岛的面积只有四平方千米。
The river is thirty miles in length. 这条河有三十英里长。
The parcel is 2 pounds in weight. 这包裹重两磅。
The room is 12 feet in width. 房间宽12英尺。
3) 也有一些表示数量的：
a. 合成词：
a ten-dollar bill 十美元的钞票
a two-page summary 两页的提纲
a 5-storeyed house 五层楼的房子
4 per cent interest 百分之四的利息
per-mu yield 亩产量
per capita wage 人均工资
a 44-hour week 每周工作44小时
a four fold increase 四倍的增长
b. 名词所有格：
a week's wage 一周的工资
two weeks' notice 提前两周通知
a day's journey 一天的路程
ten years' experience 十年的经验
an hour's drive 开车一小时
ssix months' leave 六个月的假期
