我已学过某些形容词加上定冠词可以表示某类人,例如,the rich(富人),the poor(穷人),the blind(盲人),the deaf(聋人),the sick(病人),the old(老人),the dead(死去的人),the handicapped(残疾人),the wounded(伤员)。但不知它们能否表示个体的人,例如“这个穷人”“这个病人”等等。
上面的形容词加上定冠词(the rich, the poor...),指的是某种类型的群体(a group of persons),而不能指单个的人(a person)。请看下面的例句：
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The state must care for the poor. (FWF) 国家应该关心穷人。
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The rich make slaves of the poor. (Wilde) 富人把穷人变成奴隶。
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The sick and the wounded were sent home. (Palmer) 患病者和受伤者被送回了家。
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The unemployed are losing hope. (PEU) 失业者越来越失去希望。
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She doesn't understand the present-day problems of the young. (Chambers) 她不了解年轻人当前的问题。
但是，也有例外的情况。有些形容词加上定冠词既可指一群人，也可指一个人：
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The accused asked the judge for mercy. (Hill) 被告请求法官宽恕。
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Several of the accused were found guilty. (LDCE) 有几名被告被认定有罪。
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I reconstructed the crime and before I had finished speaking, Boyle said, 'A tissue of lies!' I asked the accused if he really thought so and he answered, 'Think so? I know it!' (LEG) 我描述了那桩罪行，博伊尔没等我说完就喊道：“连篇的谎言！”我问被告是否真的这么想，他回答说：“这么想？我知道那是谎言！”
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The deceased was a great friend of mine. 死者是我的一位好朋友。