這個number是沒有必要用復數還是非用復數不可?

湖南  陳根花

看了黃衛峰教授和李翔老師關于We have made the necessary cuts in the numbers of military personnel, while weaponry has been greatly improved 中的 numbers 該用單數還是復數的兩篇文章，受益匪淺。但筆者有些不同的看法，同時也找到了一些相關的實例，現提出來向兩位老師請教！

黃衛峰教授認為，We have made the necessary cuts in the numbers of military personnel, while weaponry has been greatly improved中的numbers 沒有理由使用復數形式（www.hz123456.com/Article/200905/1217.html），而李翔老師則認為句中的number非用復數不可（原文見www.hz123456.com/Article/200908/1307.html）。

關于這個問題，首先要從a number of 與 the number of 的用法說起。

1. a number of的用法說明

(1) a number of的意思是“大量的”“許多的”。如：

A number of problems have arisen. 已經出現了一些問題。

A number of houses were burned down in the fire. 在火災中燒掉了不少房子。

We are working in association with a number of local companies to raise money for the homeless. 我們與本地一些公司聯合為無家可歸的人籌款。

(2) 若要表示強調，該結構可以改用numbers of，此時的numbers通常（但非并一定）會有表示強調的描繪性形容詞的修飾。如：

Large numbers of invitations were sent. 已發出了許多邀請。——摘自《劍橋國際英語詞典》(Cambridge International Dictionary of English) number詞條。

Small numbers of children are educated at home. 少數孩子在家接受教育。——摘自《劍橋國際英語詞典》(Cambridge International Dictionary of English) number 詞條。

Considerable numbers of animals have died. 有大量動物死亡。——摘自商務印館出版的《牛津高階英漢雙解詞典》(Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary of Current English) (1989年第四版)的 number 詞條。

Huge numbers of birds had flocked together by the lake. 成群的鳥聚集在湖畔。——摘自商務印館出版的《牛津高階英漢雙解詞典》(Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary of Current English) (1989年第四版)的 flock 詞條。

Increasing numbers of people elect to work from home nowadays. 現在越來越多的人選擇在家工作。——摘自《牛津高階英漢雙解詞典》(Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary of Current English) (第6版) elect詞條。

2. the number of的用法說明

(1) the number of的意思是“……的數量”。如：

The number of the unemployed is still increasing. 失業的人還在增加。

There has been an increase in the number of road incidents recently. 最近交通事故的數目有增加。

This is a costly war in terms of the number of men killed and wounded. 從死傷士兵的數字來看，這是一場代價昂貴的戰爭。

Despite the fact that hotel prices have risen sharply, the number of tourists is as great as ever. 盡管旅館收費猛漲，旅客的人數還是同以往一樣多。

(2) 與a number of 也可改用 numbers of 不一樣，the number of 很少改成 the numbers of，筆者問了幾位外教朋友，他（她）們也是這樣認為的。但是，筆者不甘心，把手頭幾本詞典翻了個遍，終于還是找到了兩個例子：

(1) a plague of rats / locusts etc: an uncontrolled and harmful increase in the numbers of a particular animal or insect ——摘自《朗文當代英語詞典》(Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English) (1995年第3版) plague 詞條。

(2) at the last count according to the latest information about the numbers of sth. ——摘自《牛津高階英漢雙解詞典》(Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary of Current English) (第6版) count 詞條。

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