(A) Some folk are never satisfied. (ALD)
(B) He may fool some folks but he can't fool me. (Lewis)
为什么(A)句中用 folk,而(B)句中用 folks 呢?
按照现代语言学家们的解释,folk与people,police一样,是无标记的复数名词,永远与复数动词连用。但是,在随便的语体中也使用folks来表示复数,在美国英语中尤其如此:
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I figure that different folks like different things. 我想,不同的人喜欢不同的东西。
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Is there more honesty among country folk than among town folk? 乡村人比城市里的人更诚实吗？
有时,folks 与物主代词连用是指“家里人”的意思:
I don't even have time to write letters to my folks. (EED) 我甚至没有时间给家里人写信。follow
The lady went into the lab, ____ Tom and John. A. followed B. followed by C. following with D. to follow
我总是区分不开 following 与 followed 的含义, 因此, 我无法做上面的题。
应当记住及物动词 follow 的含义：“跟随”“跟在……的后边”，如 Follow me(跟着我)! B follows A(B 在 A 的后边)，A is followed by B(A 的后边是 B):
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That car is following us! 那辆汽车正在跟着我们!
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The lightning was quickly followed by heavy thunder. 闪电过后紧接着是响雷。不难看出，上面的试题应当选 B（分词短语作伴随状语）。如果选项 C 不含 with 的话，也可以选 C(following)，但意思相反。
请做下面的英语试题：
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____ some officials, Napoleon inspected his army. A. Followed B. Followed by C. Being followed D. Having been followed by(全国高考)
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The teacher came in with many students ____. A. following B. to follow C. followed D. being followed
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There was a terrible noise ____ the sudden burst of light. A. followed B. following C. to be followed D. being followed(全国高考)
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There came a terrible cry ____ the fall of the pole. A. followed B. to follow C. following D. that follows(全国成人高考,96-31)