1. I understand "the elderly" refers to a group of old people. When we use this term, should it be "the elderly is" or "the elderly are"?
Does it apply to other cases like "the handicapped" and "the poor"?
2. Are "any" and "no" followed by a singular noun or a plural noun?
3. Is "this pair of trousers" followed by "cost" or costs"? When we use phrases like "this pair", "a dozen", does the verb in the sentence refer to the "a pair" such that we use "costs", or "trousers" such that we use "cost?
4. It is often heard people say "It is no good" or "It is no use". I would like to know what is the usage of this sentence pattern "It is NO (a noun)"?
For me, I am used to say "it is NOT useful" or "THERE is no use crying". Are all the them correct and refer to the same thing?
THANKS.
English problems
2012-03-13 6:12 pm
回答 (3)
2012-03-13 10:12 pm
✔ 最佳答案
These are very good and practical questions, I'll try my best to answer.1. Technically(i.e.grammaticall), "elderly", "poor", "physically impaired", etc.
are collective noun, thus use singular "is" is the principle format. However, depending on the context (the actual meaning in the sentence) if you're not using the term as a collective noun as a "subject" but using it to represent a number (quantity) of this type of people, you may use "are" to bring out the quantity (countable) characteristics.
因此，用"is"還是"are"要看句子中這名詞是代表一類人(is)還是一 班這類人are)。
2.
"no" follows by singular.
"any" can follows by singular or plural, depending on the context.
e.g.
At the end of the seminar, the speaker prompt for question:
Are there any questions?
any帶出的含意是預期多於一條問題，所以一般都會跟plural.
Teacher is requesting one student for cleaning duty for this week:
Is there any volunteer?
School Choir is asking students to join:
Would there be any"one" interested to join the Choir?
如果any跟的名詞內容意思是單一的，便可以用singular
3. this pair of trousers costs
You've already used "this" as a singular item, follow by a singular verb.
In principle, just rememer "A pair of", "A dozen" the "A" is a singular unit.
再複雜一些如
A school of fish/people
A bunch of things
A herd of animal
are all "singular"
4.
"It is no good" or "It is no use".
is Colloquial地道口語
"it is NOT useful" or "THERE is no use crying"
are correct formal writing.
So depends on where and how you use them, iremember in spoken English it is OK to be no good, as long as it is understandable, but not in formal writing.
2012-03-29 4:47 pm
"no" can also be followed by plural noun.
2012-03-29 08:54:36 補充：
"the elderly" is a plural noun (like "people"), so you must always use plural verbs for it.
e.g. The elderly are a formidable force in any election.
2012-03-29 09:03:12 補充：
"no" is a determiner (adj.) in your example;
used to express the opposite of what is mentioned
e.g. She's no fool (= she's intelligent).
e.g. It was no easy matter (= it was difficult).
It is no good. = It is bad.
It is no use. = It is useless.
2012-03-29 09:12:34 補充：
Jenkin,
Keep cracking!
2012-03-29 09:20:27 補充：
I mean ..get cracking!!!
2012-03-29 08:54:36 補充：
"the elderly" is a plural noun (like "people"), so you must always use plural verbs for it.
e.g. The elderly are a formidable force in any election.
2012-03-29 09:03:12 補充：
"no" is a determiner (adj.) in your example;
used to express the opposite of what is mentioned
e.g. She's no fool (= she's intelligent).
e.g. It was no easy matter (= it was difficult).
It is no good. = It is bad.
It is no use. = It is useless.
2012-03-29 09:12:34 補充：
Jenkin,
Keep cracking!
2012-03-29 09:20:27 補充：
I mean ..get cracking!!!
2012-03-15 12:47 am
Jenkin
Very good answer so I sponsored the question.
Very good answer so I sponsored the question.
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