除了many, a few, a lot, 英语里还有好多课本里学不到，但口语里很常用的量词！

比如前些天，一位用户问的“a dozen", 还有"a ton", "a bunch"......

今天我们就总结这些常用量词！

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

注意发音: of 变成 /æ/

With these measure words, the "of" sounds more like "æ": 口语里说这些量词，of会变成a的音

• "a box of cereal" > "a box a cereal"

• "a pack of cigarettes" > "a pack of cigarettes"

• A lot of > lotta

• A whole lot of > whole lotta

送给大家 whole lotta love!