许多语法书都一再强调:当表示复数概念的名词用作定语时只能采用单数形式,例如,room numbers, a two-week vacation, a twelve-year-old girl。甚至一般不使用单数形式的名词在用作定语时,也必须采用单数形式:a trouser press (a press for trousers) (压裤机)。这是许多标准考试的考核内容之一。例如:
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Apple is a ____ word. A. five-letter B. five-letters C. fives-letters D. five letters (TOEFL)
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Marine organisms live in all parts of the ocean, from shallow shores areas to the deepest points on the ocean floor. (TOEFL)
但是,我经常遇到复数名词用作定语的情况,例如,communications satellite(通讯卫星),plastics industry(塑料工业),an Arts degree(人文科学学位),sports car(赛车),sports shoes(运动鞋)。不知如何解释这些语言现象。
首先应当明确,名词作定语时取单数形式,这是一个应当遵循的大原则。但是,在这个大原则下有些例外的情况,并且,这种例外情况有日益增多的趋势。
a ten weeks vacation (CGEL) (一个 10 周的假期) a greetings telephone (祝贺电话) computer systems applications (计算机系统的应用) the humanities faculty (人文学院) communications gap (交流沟) careers guidance (职业指导)
<table><tr><td>a savings bank(储蓄银行)</td><td>examinations board(考试委员会)</td></tr><tr><td>armaments industry(兵器工业)</td><td>the chemicals industry(化学工业)</td></tr><tr><td>arms control(军备控制)</td><td>brains trust(AmE)(智囊团)</td></tr><tr><td>arms sales(军火销售)</td><td>sales promotion(货物促销)</td></tr><tr><td>a goods train(火车货车)</td><td>sales department(门市部)</td></tr></table>人们使用名词的复数形式来作定语，主要是遵循约定俗成的原则。
有些名词只有复数形式,而没有单数形式,因此,在它们用作定语时只能保持原来的复数形式:a customs officer(海关官员),the arms race(军备竞赛),a goods train(火车货车),an honours student(优等生)。
有些名词用作定语时取单数形式和取复数形式,在意义上是有区别的:
an arts degree(人文科学学位)
an art degree(艺术学位)
examinations board(多种考试的考试委员会)
examination board(一种考试的委员会)
the Watergate tapes affair(水门录音带事件)(含有多盘录音带的意思)
branch supervisor(一个部门或几个部门的监督)
branches supervisor(几个部门的监督)
让我们从英文原著里引用一些例句：
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Facing declining business in North America and Europe, arms manufacturers are plying the route to growth markets on the western shores of the Pacific. (Financial Times) 面对北美和欧洲的商业衰退，军火生产商正往返于通往太平洋西岸增长市场的航线上。（金融时报）(译文引自《现代英语报刊阅读词典》)
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Unlike impoverished citizens of Jamaica or Yucatan, cleaning up yesterday after Gilbert's devastation, Americans enjoy all benefits of satellite pictures and a communications network which gives them ample time to flee the path of a storm and the means—cars and cash—to do so. (Washington Post) 不像昨天下午遭受吉尔伯特号飓风破坏之后正在清理废墟的牙买加或尤卡坦贫穷的居民，美国人享受了卫星图片和交通网络的一切好处，从而有逃离风暴线路所需的充分时间和手段——汽车和现金。(华盛顿邮报)(同上)
这里应再次强调,在理解这些例外情况之后,考生还是应当遵循名词作定语时应当使用单数形式的大原则。请注意下列试题的正确答案:
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Some bloods types are quite common, others are regionally distributed, and others are rare everywhere. (TOEFL)
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Idaho ranks first among the states in potatoes production. (TOEFL)
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Employments agencies bring together persons qualified for specific jobs and employers who have those jobs available. (TOEFL)
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The imposition nationwide of the fifty-five-miles an hour speed limit has reduced the number of accidents. (TOEFL)
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Peanuts grow in long, bright green rows on 18-inches-high bushes. (TOEFL)
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"Are those men in the blue uniforms policemen?" "Oh, no, they're ____." A. bus drivers B. buses drivers C. bus driver D. buses driver (TOEFL)
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“Did your club dance turn out well?” “Yes, we made a ____ profit.”
plural attributive nouns 1138 A. five-hundred-dollar B. five-hundred-dollars C. five-hundreds-dollar D. five-hundreds-dollars(TOEFL)
- “Can I get you anything while I'm downtown?” “Yes, I need some ____. A. shoe lace B. shoes lace C. shoe laces D. shoes laces(TOEFL)