美国文化口语秀(文本+MP3) 第380期:英语量词你会用吗?

除了many, a few, a lot, 英语里还有好多量词是课本里学不到的。比如美国人特别喜欢用的“dozen”，可以形容鸡蛋，也能形容人！今天，Jenny和Adam就总结一下英语里最常用的量词。快听节目吧！

关键词：

中英文量词的区别
measure word: 量词
Chinese meansure words are very specific, i.e. many can be only used to describe a certain type of thing: 中文的量词比较特定，不同的量词对应不同的东西
Measure words in English aren't as specific as Chinese: 英语的量词没有中文那么特定
But because they're more general, using them appropriately might be challenging: 但是因为比较宽泛，所以要恰当使用也不那么容易

美国人最爱用的量词：a dozen
A dozen: 一打
A dozen means 12:一打表示12个
Eggs are most commonly bought by the dozen: 最常用来形容鸡蛋
A dozen eggs: 一盒鸡蛋
We wouldn't call it a box of eggs: 英语里不会说一盒蛋，而是说一打鸡蛋
You can also buy half a dozen eggs: 也可以买小盒的，半打
Half a dozen or a half dozen?
Both are correct: 两种说法都是正确的
Dozens can also be used in the plural form: 打还可以变成复数
Dozens of people: 好多人（几十个)
Dozens of options: 许多的选择
Dozens究竟是多少？
Since English doesn't really have a word for "tens", dozens is used to express the idea:由于英语没有一个词表明“几十”，所以dozens用来形容几十这个数量
"Dozens" is the next step down from hundreds: “dozens”代表几十个，再上去就是几百个

最浪漫的量词：a couple
现在常说的“CP", 就是couple. 不过美国人可不会说“CP", 这是有亚洲特色的英语。
A couple
A couple: 两个，也是一对恋人、爱人的意思
A couple到底是几个？
Strictly speaking, "a couple" means 2: 严格来说，a couple是两个
A couple of pens: 两支笔
A couple of cups: 两个杯子
But in everyday conversations, it could also mean several, a few: 但是日常口语里，它也能指几个、多个
Let's get a couple of tomatoes: 我们买几个番茄
Let's get a couple of apples: 我们买几个苹果
It really depends on the context: 具体的数量，还是要通过语境分析
A few
This is a word everyone learns early on: 这个词大家应该是最早学到的

注意语法
A few___ 不是 a few of ___
Most measure words are followed by "of" but "few" is an exception: 量词通常都用“of”链接后面的名词，但“a few”是个例外(few同理)
"a few pens", not "a few of pens": 是 few pens,而不是a few of pens
但是有例外
The only time you use "a few of" is when you're not being specific: 当 a few后面跟的不是具体事物时，要加of。比如:
a few of these
a few of those
a few of us

做菜必备量词: a pinch, a handful
Measure words used in cooking/recipes 做菜、菜谱常用的量词
A pinch: 一小撮
Add a pinch of salt, a pinch of pepper: 加一小撮盐、一小撮胡椒
A handful: 一把
A handful of nuts: 一把坚果
More measure words for cooking 更多做菜时常用的量词
A spoonful: 一勺
A table spoon of: 一汤匙
A tea spoon of: 一茶匙

形容大数量的量词
A ton of: 美国人最爱用
Americans love using the word "a ton": 美国人非常爱用“a ton"这个词
An actual ton is 1000kg: 这个词确切的重量是一吨、1000公斤
Canadians spell the word as "tonne": 加拿大人的拼法是tonne
In spoken English, a ton means "a lot": 口语里，a ton的意思是很多、大量的
A ton of homework": 很多作业
A ton of work: 很多工作
Ton in the plural form: ton也能当复数
Most common use of "tons": tons最常见的用法
We had tons of fun at the party: 派对真好玩儿
There are tons of people in Shanghai Disney: 上海迪士尼人爆多
＊Instead of saying "people mountain people sea", you should say "tons of people": 以后别再说“people mountain people sea"这个错误的老梗了，大家跟我说“tons of people"
Versatile measure words 百搭量词
A bunch: 一捆、一堆、一群
A bunch of flowers: 一束花
A bunch of carrots: 一捆胡萝卜
A bunch of people: 一群人（几个到十几个的范围，没有几十个那么多）
A bunch of money: 一些钱 （不是太多、也不是太少)
A pile：一堆
A pile of work: 一堆工作，通常形容堆积了很多
＊ You can't use pile to describe people: 不能说”a pile of people"

特定量词一：动物
There are really specific measure words for animals: 英语里形容动物的量词是最特定的
A school of fish: 一群鱼
A flock of birds: 一群鸟
A pride of lions: 一群狮子

特定量词二：食物
Food also has very specific measure words: 食物也有特定对应的量词
A piece or slice of toast: 一片面包
A loaf of bread: 一条面包 ，切片面包组成的一长条
A baguette, not a loaf of baguette: 不过法棍是个例外，直接说a baguette, 不是a loaf of baguette
A cup of coffee: 一杯咖啡
A bowl of oatmeal: 一碗麦片
A box of cereal: 一盒早餐谷物