核心问题
A crossroads is a place where roads cross. 为什么在复数名词 crossroads 之前加不定冠词 a?
词典解答
crossroads 虽然具有复数的形式,但它实际上却是个单数名词。语法学家们把这类名词叫做单复数同形的名词: {This is a busy crossroads. There are several crossroads here.
属于这类名词的还有: headquarters(司令部), series(系列), species(种类), works(工厂), means(手段)等。
[附注]L. G. Alexander 认为, 上面的名词也可以与复数动词连用:
Our headquarters are in London. (《请教亚历山大》, 外研社, p. 213)
练习题
请做下面的英语试题：
An accident happened at ____ crossroads a few metres away from ____ bank. A. a; a B. 不填; a C. 不填; the D. the; 不填(上海高考,03年春-23)