一、不定代詞概說
英語的不定代詞有 all, each, both, either, neither, one, none, little, few, many, much, other, another, some, any, no, (a) few, (a) little, both, enough, every 等,以及由 some, any, no 和 every 構成的合成代詞(即somebody, anyone, nothing 等)。在這些不定代詞中,多數(shù)都能作主語、賓語、表語或定語,但是代詞 none 以及由 some, any, no 和 every 構成的合成代詞只能作主語、賓語或表語,不能作定語,而 no 和 every 則只用作定語。
二、指兩者和三者的不定代詞
有些不定代詞用于指兩者(如both, either, neither),有的不定代詞用于指三者(如all, any, none, every),注意不要弄混:
Both of my parents are doctors. 我的父母都是醫(yī)生。
All of the students are interested in it. 所有的學生對此都很感興趣。
There are trees on any side of the square. 廣場的每一邊都種有樹。
He has two sons, neither of whom is rich. 他有兩個兒子,都不富有。
He has three sons, none of whom is rich. 他有三個兒子,都不富有。
【說明】each 可用于兩者、三者或三者以上,而 every 只用于三者或三者以上,因此用于兩者時只能用 each,不能用 every。如不能說 There are trees on every side of the road.
三、復合不定代詞的用法特點
復合不定代詞包括 something, somebody, someone, anything, anybody, anyone, nothing, nobody, no one, everything, everybody, everyone 等。它們在句中可用作主語、賓語或表語,但不能用作定語。something, someone 等和 anything, anyone等的區(qū)別與 some 和 any 的區(qū)別一樣,前者一般用于肯定句,后者一般用于否定句、疑問句或條件句(參見 any & some)。具體使用時應注意以下幾點:
1. 復合不定代詞受定語修飾時,定語應放在它們后面:
There is nothing wrong with the radio. 這收音機沒有毛病。
Have you seen anyone [anybody] famous? 你見過名人嗎?
2. 指人的復合不定代詞若用作主語,其謂語動詞一般用單數(shù),相應的人稱代詞和物主代詞也用單數(shù) he, him, his (不一定指男性)。但在非正式文體中常用復數(shù)代詞 they, them, their:
Everyone knows this, doesn’t he [don’t they]? 人人都知道這一點,不是嗎?
If anybody [anyone] comes, ask him [them] to wait. 要是有人來,讓他等著。
3. 指事物的復合不定代詞若用作主語,謂語動詞只能用單數(shù),相應的人稱代詞也只能用 it,而不用 they:
Everything is ready, isn’t it? 一切都準備好了,是嗎?
4. anyone, everyone 等只能指人,不能指物,且其后一般不接of 短語。若是指物或后接 of 短語,可用 any one, every one (分開寫):
any one of the boys (books) 孩子們(書)當中的任何一個(本)
every one of the students (schools) 每一個學生(一所學校)
四、是any not 還是 not any
按英語習慣,any 以及含有any的復合不定代詞用于否定句時,它只能出現(xiàn)在否定詞之后,而不能在否定詞之前:
誤:Any one doesn’t know how to do it.
正:No one knows how to do it. 任何人都不知道如何做它。
誤:Anybody [Anyone] cannot do it.
正:Nobody [No one] can do it. 這事誰也干不了。
誤:Anything cannot prevent me from going.
正:Nothing can prevent me from going. 什么也不能阻擋我去。
五、不定代詞與部分否定
不定代詞all, both, every 等與 not 連用時構成部分否定;若要表示完全否定,則需換用 none, neither, no one等。比較:
All of the students like the novel. 所有這些學生都喜歡這本小說。
Not all of the students like the novel. 并不是所有這些學生都喜歡這本小說。
All of the students don’t like the novel. 并不是所有這些學生都喜歡這本小說。
None of the students like the novel. 這些學生當中沒有一個喜歡這本小說。
六、all, both, each 等用作同位語
若用作主語同位語,主語可以是名詞或代詞;若用作賓語等其他成分的同位語,則賓語等成分必須是人稱代詞,而不能是名詞:
We have all read it. 我們都讀過他。(all 修飾的主語是代詞)
The villages have all been destroyed. 村莊都被毀了。(all 修飾的主語是名詞)
They told us all to wait there. 他叫我們都在那兒等。(all 修飾的賓語是代詞)
但不能說:They told the men all to wait there. (all 修飾的賓語是名詞不是代詞)
七、so little 與 such little的區(qū)別
用so little還是such little取決于little的意思:若表示數(shù)量方面的“少”,則用so little;若表示形狀體積的“小”,則用such little:
He has so little time for reading. 他讀書的時間少得可憐。
I’ve never seen such little boxes. 我從未見過那樣小的盒子。
八、some 與 any的用法區(qū)別
一般說來,some 用于肯定句中,any 用于否定句和疑問句中。但是,在表示請求、邀請或征求意見的句子中,通常要用 some 而不用any:
Would you like some cake? 吃點蛋糕嗎?
Why not buy some bread? 為什么不買些面包呢?
Shall I get some chalk for you? 要我?guī)湍隳眯┓酃P來嗎?
【說明】any 有時也用于肯定句中,此時表示“任何”:
Any colour will do. 任何顏色都行。
Come any day you like. 隨便哪天來都可以。
九、many 與 much的用法區(qū)別
兩者都表示“許多”,但 many 修飾或代替可數(shù)名詞(復數(shù)),與 few(少數(shù))相對;而 much 用來修飾或代替不可數(shù)名詞(單數(shù)),與little(少量)相對。在口語中兩者主要用于非肯定句中:
Did you see many people there? 你在那兒看見許多人了嗎?
We don’t have much time. 我們沒有許多時間。
在肯定句中,一般用 a lot of, lots of, plenty of 等代之。但在正式文體中有時也用于肯定句中;另外,若用作主語或主語的定語,或其前有 how, too, as, so, a good, a great 等修飾,也可用于肯定句中:
Many of us left early. 我們有許多人離開得很早。
Much work has been done. 許多工作都已經(jīng)做了。
You’ve given me too much. 你已給我太多了。
Take as many (much) as you want. 你要多少拿多少。
I asked her a great many questions. 我問了她許多問題。
十、few, a few 與 little, a little的用法區(qū)別
1. few和a few 后接可數(shù)名詞的復數(shù)形式。few 表示數(shù)量很少或幾乎沒有,強調“少”,含有否定意義;a few 表示數(shù)量雖然少但畢竟還有,強調“有”,含有肯定意義:
It is very difficult, and few people understand it. 它很難,沒有幾個人能懂。
It is very difficult, but a few people understand it. 他雖難,但是有些人懂。
2. little 和 a little 之后接不可數(shù)名詞,其區(qū)別跟 few 和 a few 之間的區(qū)別相似:
Unfortunately, I had little money on me. 很不巧,我身上沒帶什么錢。
Fortunately, I had a little money on me. 幸好我身上帶著一點錢。