核心问题
I have read the book from beginning to end. (ALD)
据我们的记忆, beginning 和 end 是可数名词。我不明白为什么在它们前头不加定冠词。这是跟下面的用法不符合的: at the beginning, in the beginning, from the beginning, at the end, in the end。
词典解答
beginning 和 end 都是可数名词。在它们前头照例是应当加冠词的。例如：
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A good beginning makes a good ending. (Prov) 有好的开端才会有好的结尾。
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The beginning of the trip was dull. (MD) 这次旅行的开头是很枯燥无味的。
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It was an excellent beginning. (Wells) 这是一个很好的开端。
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In the beginning some of us took no interest in it. (Mis) 起初我们有些人对它不感兴趣。
但是英语里有一个倾向:为了使一个名词与另一个具有相反意义的名词保持平行,常常省略冠词(但是亦可说 from the beginning to the end)。例如:
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From beginning to end his conduct had been despicable and wicked. (Bennet) 他的行为始终都是卑鄙的，丑恶的。
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I want to know about this thing now from beginning to end. (Dreiser) 现在我想了解这件事的始末。