means

1.means原来是复数形式，但习惯上有时当作单数，有时当作复数，下面几点该注意：

（1）means（财产、资源）虽然被看作复数，但前面习惯用much和little，不用many和few。例如：He had only a little means at that time.

（2）在用作“方法”、“手段”或“工具”解的时候，a means，such a means，this means，that means和every means当作单数，all means，such means，these means和those means当作复数，means，the means和on means当作单数或复数都有。

2.a means to an end里的to改作towards也可以，但不普通。

3.means（方法）后面通常接of或for和动名词，偶尔接不定式或to和动名词。例如：a means of（或for）solving（偶尔用to solve或to solving）the problem。

4.means（方法）前面用by。例如：You can accomplish your object by this means only.

5.by means of（用着…地、靠着…地）后面很少接动名词，如很少说Samuel had to pay the tax by means of borrowing money from friends。最好把means of删去，或把borrowing money改作money borrowed。

6.by all means（必然）和by no means（必不）比by all manner of means和by no manner of means普通。

7.注意下面第一组第二句里用are these goods，第二组第二句里用shall I。

• These goods are by no means satisfactory.
  By no means are these goods satisfactory.
• I shall by no means misunderstand you.
  By no means shal/ / misunderstand you.