QUANTIFIERS - Large Quantity

Large quantity quantifiers

Much and many:

Much 用於不能數的名詞（Uncountable and always be singular）; many 用於可數的名詞.

IMPORTANT NOTE: 在現代英語口語，much和many不經常用作肯定句(affirmative statement)的量詞，它們較多用在疑問句和否定的語境。

Examples: 1. I have many reasons for thinking that this man is innocent. 

可以接受的，但比較正式。大多數英文人會講：I have plenty of / a lot of / ample / reasons for thinking .....

2. Much whisky is of very good quality. 

這句話technically是可以接受的，但在口語不太可能。大多數人會說: A lot of whisky / A good proportion of whisky / Plenty of whisky ......

3. He has much money 

這句不太正統。 會說: He has a lot of money / He has loads of money.

4. Much of what you have written is very good. 

"much of" 這表達方法在這affirmative的環境是可以的; 在比較formal的語境中，幾下講法或寫法較理想：A lot of what you have written.....A good deal of what you have written.....

With so and too

Examples: 1. There is so much poverty in the world

2. There are too many people in here

Lots of, a lot of, plenty of, a large number of, numerous

這些表達方法或多或少都是同義詞。在上面的列表中，它們由最非正式（lots of）到最正式（numerous）依次排列。

記住：盡量避免使用much / many在肯定的語句 (affirmative statement)。雖然不是錯，但在現代英語立場來説，它往往聽起來很正式，古老或奇怪。另一方面，有時在肯定語境使用much of / many of; so much / so many和 too much / too many是完全可以接受的。

---Uncountable Nouns---

Uncountable Noun指實質或概念無法分割的名詞, 不可數, 無單、複數可言。

Uncountable Nouns包括物質、抽象和專有名詞等。

例子：

news (新聞)

advice (諮詢、忠告)

information (資訊)

work (工作)

travel (旅遊)

weather (天氣)

luggage (行李)

progress (進展) love (愛)

money (金錢)

furniture (傢俱)

homework (作業)

water (水)

tea (茶)

bread (麵包)

milk (牛奶)

wealth (財富)

attention (注意力)

electricity (電)

research (研究)

knowledge (知識)

evidence (證據)

【Countable Nouns】

Countable Nouns可數名詞

• They have a singular and a plural form.
• The singular form can use the determiner "a" or "an"
• Singular Countable Noun needs to have a determiner; Plural Countable Noun cannot use with the articles ‘a’ / ‘an’.
• It's important to distinguish between countable and uncountable nouns in English because their usage is different in regards to both determiners and verbs. 名詞前面使用何種冠詞與該名詞是「可數名詞」或「不可數名詞」有著密切的關係。

Example 1 • I ate orange this morning. • I ate an orange this morning. 單數可數名詞前面需加 a/an • I like oranges. 複數可數名詞前面通常不加article

Example 2 • I study English very hard and I usually get the best grades on the English tests. • I study English very hard and I usually get the best grades on English tests. ‘tests’ 是Plural Countable Noun，前面通常不加article， 除非是特別指明哪個tests，就要用 ’the’

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有些字既可以當Countable又可以用作Uncountable。

Example 1 – Trouble 1. I got into trouble (uncountable). 2. She had many troubles (countable).

Example 2 – Hair 1. He’s going to have his hair (uncountable) cut. 2. I’m getting a few grey hairs (countable) now.

******************************************************************************************************** 我們也可以將 a few 和 many 用在Plural Countable Noun上

1. A few weeks ago, I was very sick. 2. How many brothers do you have? 3. We exchanged a few civilities. 我們相互寒暄了幾句。 ‘a few' +plural 'civilities' = 客套, 寒暄。

【Singular and Plural Nouns】

REGULAR NOUNS

1.      ADD –s

Most singular nouns form. 

普遍的情況

Things

Boats

Pens

Cats

Rivers

2.      ADD –es

2.1 A singular noun ending in s, x, z, ch,or sh.

Buses

Boxes

Wishes

Pitches

2.2  A singular noun ending in a ‘consonant + o’.

Mangoes

Heroes

Potatoes

Tomatoes

Echoes

3.      DROP –y; ADD –ies

3.1 A singular noun ending in ‘a consonant + y’.

Baby – babies

City – cities

Gallery – galleries

Country – countries

Lady – ladies

3.2 A singular noun ending in ‘a vowal + y/ makes the plural by just adding-s.

Boy – boys

Day – days

Monkey - monkeys

Play – plays

Joy – joys

4.      SINGULAR FORM = PLURAL FORM

Fish

Sheep

Deer

Species

Aircraft

IRREGULAR VERB/NOUN AGREEMENT

1.          Some nouns get a plural form but take a singular verb. 

眾數名詞跟單數動詞

News ... The news is about to start at 6:00 p.m.

Athletics ... Athletics is good for young people.

Linguistics ... Linguistics is the study of language.

Darts ... Darts is a popular game in England.

Billards ... Billards is popular among youngsters.

2.          Some nouns have a fixed plural form and take a plural verb. 

永遠是眾數樣貌的名詞

Trousers/Jeans ... My trousers are too tight.

Glasses/Spectacles ... Those glasses are mine.

Wages ... Minimum wages are set by the government.

Some other examples:

Thanks/Stairs/Congratulations/Wages

They are not used in the singular, or they have a different meaning in the singular. 

用單數的話，它們會有其他意思。

**IRREGULAR NOUNS**

我們就是要謹記一些不跟法規的英文。

There are some irregular noun plurals. The common ones are listed below.

Woman – women

Man – men

Child – children

Tooth – teeth

Foot – feet

Person – people

Leaf – leaves

Mouse – mice

Goose – geese

Half – halves

Knife – knives

Wife – wives

Life – lives

Elf – elves

Loaf – loaves

Focus – foci

Fungus – fungi

Nucleus – nuclei

Syllabus – syllabi

Analysis – analyses

Thesis – theses

Crisis – crises

Phenomenon – phenomena

Criterion – criteria

Datum – data

Brand new start

【RSVP】全寫

一些邀請函的最後部分，通常都會印有「RSVP」，意思即係叫你出唔出席都講聲啦。

原來RSVP來自法文「Répondez s'il vous plaît」。

【下款 Complimentary Close】

工作時一定會用到email，甚至會寫封tangible 的 信件。有人問我 “除了Regards, Best regards外，仲有咩下款可以用？” How to sign off an email?

下款的英文是Complimentary Close,  以下有些例子：

· Very truly yours,

· Yours truly,

· Respectfully,

· Sincerely yours,

· Yours sincerely,

· Sincerely,

· Best regards,

· Regards,

· Warm regards,

· With many thanks,

· Cordially, 

· Warm wishes, 

以上所有Complimentary Close都可以接受的，問題是如何選擇一個fit到自己封email或信？

前三個: "Very truly yours", "Yours truly", "Respectfully" 是正式的(formal)表達。"Sincerely yours"和"Yours sincerely" 沒有前三個那麽正式，但都正式。

最常用是"Sincerely"。所以如果你不知道哪個適合你, 用 "Sincerely" 吧!

現今的年代, "Best regards"已越來越普遍, 地位應該同 "Sincerely" 差唔多。"Regards" 明顯是 "Best regards" 的簡寫。但本人建議寫"Warm regards"或者"Best regards"。

"Cordially"的意思是"Warmly" 和"Sincerely", 但這個詞有點old school。可以用"Warm wishes"或 "Sincerely", 這兩個都給人溫暖而有禮的感覺。

最後, "Thank you"  是句子，不是下款。"Thank you" 會是你正文的一部分。

e.g.  Dear Mr. xxx, (上款)

          (正文)

        Thank you. 

        Best regards, (下款)

         Chan Tai Man (署名)

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