关于“a+不可数名词”结构

有人问: 有人说不可数名词不可受a或an的修饰,你认为对吗?

这种说法对初学英语的孩子也许有用,但对已学过几年英语的人来说,就不够全面了。事实上,“a+不可数名词”结构并不罕见,a常有“一种”、“一次”、“一阵”等含义。不可数名词多为物质名词与抽象名词。物质名词例如:

(1)He was in a sweat .

(2)I saw a smoke in the distance.

(3)A mist spread before my eyes.

抽象名词例如:

(4)The coach took an interest in the boy.

(5)There seems to be a coolness between them.

(6)People who are always complaining are a pain in the neck.

英语中还有一种常可见到的“a+形容词+不可数名词”结构。这种结构具有很大的活用性,现举数例如下:

(7)Hang the picture in a good light .

(8)A heavy dew fell.

(9)This will be a sufficient equipment for a foreign journey.

(10)He has a good digestion .

(11)Alone in the quiet bar he enjoyed an unaccustomed tranquility .

(12)No progress can establish itself without a partial retrogression .

“a+形容词+不可数名词”中的形容词亦可代之以后置修饰语,例如:

(13)Imagine a shyness more powerful than curiosity or desire .(后置修饰语是一形容词短语)

(14)He has done a work of exceptional value .(后置修饰语是一名词短语)

(15)In his eyes was a pain that was heartrending .(后置修饰语是一定语从句)