主詞為複數受詞卻為單數?

Question

1. Most sales representatives earn a small salary during the first few months.

=>請問此句主詞representatives是複數,為啥salary是用單數 a而不是複數呢,這是什麼用法?

2. Both the consultant and his client are having a lunch special.

=>請問此句主詞 the consultant and his client是複數,為啥lunch special是用單數呢?

p.s.請各位大大就我的提問回答我會選出最貼切的答案喔謝謝^^

還有其它問題至今尚未選出最佳解答歡迎各位大大光臨指教或補充謝謝^^

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Update:

我的意思是 lunch special為啥前面要加 a ,希望還有其它大大能更詳細解釋此大題用法

Update 2:

cavalier 大大您說的many a 跟many句型的主詞及動詞型態我已了解了,那再請教第一題您說的many a那句名詞接 a small salary我可以理解,但是Many/Most那句為啥名詞還是接 a small salary而不是複數形?

還有第二題的用法是英文文法中的什麼文法如果有資料我想多知道一些^^

Answer 1

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樓上的回答雖沒答錯(除了steak加s), 但總令人有隔靴搔癢沒有命中要害的感覺.

1. Most sales representatives earn a small salary during the first few months.

=>請問此句主詞representatives是複數,為啥salary是用單數 a而不是複數呢,這是什麼用法?

本句的用法源自"many a"的概念. 英文中的複數主體有many與many a兩個概念, 兩者都是"許多"之意但其中many a是用於多數中每一份子情況劃一, 接單數主詞(複數概念)與單數動詞, 若換成many, most之類就接複數主詞與複數動詞, 而此種劃一份子的概念, 使受詞的數不受影響, 也就是本句的類型:

Many a sales representative earns a small salary during the first few months.

= Many/Most sales representatives earn a small salary during the first few months.

2. Both the consultant and his client are having a lunch special.

=>請問此句主詞 the consultant and his client是複數,為啥lunch special是用單數呢?

lunch是可以多人參與的一件事, 同一天的午餐用單數, 多日的午餐才用複數.

本句的lunch special是同一日的, 自然是用單數囉!

另舉一例: All my classmates are having a party in the garden.

主詞是複數, a party卻是單數, 因為party是可以多人參與的一件事.

2008-10-17 23:51:17 補充：

回版主:

"a lunch special"的冠詞a是加給special (n.)的, 如果沒有special這個字, 絕對不能加a.

>> Many/Most那句為啥名詞還是接 a small salary而不是複數形?<<

我不是說明了嗎? many/most有many與many a兩種概念, 因為本句兩者都是各份子劃一的語意, 所以兩者都用a small salary不變.

文法書不一定會說到這麼細, 因為這是語意學的範疇.

Source(s): 自己; 文法

Answer 2

1. Most sales representatives earn a small salary during the first few months.

=>請問此句主詞representatives是複數,為啥salary是用單數 a而不是複數呢,這是什麼用法?

因為每一個sales representative, 只賺自己的一份人工

2. Both the consultant and his client are having a lunch special.

=>請問此句主詞 the consultant and his client是複數,為啥lunch special是用單數呢?

lunch special 與 lunch, breakfast 同 dinner一樣, 他們都吃午餐, 你不會加S, 但是如果寫某一種菜餚, 就要加S啊, 如 steaks.

Source(s): ME