Though the crew were at first under the impression that the lost ship had been found, the contents of the sea-chest proved them wrong. (New Concept English, Book 3, L. 32)
据我所知, content 为不可数名词, 这里为什么用其复数形式呢?
当 content 指与“形式”相对而言的“内容”时,它常常用作不可数名词:
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I like the style of the book but I don't like the content. (LDCE) 我喜欢这本书的风格，但是不喜欢它的内容。
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Do you agree with the content of the speech? (Thorndike) 你同意这个演说的内容吗?
当content指书、信、报告、电报所包含的内容时，则常常用作复数。例如：
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I wondered whether he already knew the contents of my telegram. (Greene) 我想了解他是否已知道我的电报内容。
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He told me that he did not know the contents of the will. (Yeats) 他告诉我他不知道遗嘱的内容。
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The contents of the letter were quite unexpected. 信的内容是很出人预料之外的。
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He knew by heart the contents of the note. (EED) 他背下了便条的内容。
当 content 指“内含物”“……里面装的东西”以及书籍的目录时,就必须用复数形式 contents。例如:
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Show me the contents of your suitcase. (DEU) 把你皮箱里的东西给我看看。
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He drank the contents of his glass in one gulp. (EED) 他一口喝光了杯中的酒。
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. . . pouring out the contents of the bag... (EED) 把袋内的东西倒出来……
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Then he showed me the contents of the parcel. (NCE, 2, L. 51) 后来他给我看了包里的东西。