Burchill said in a recent letter of apology to the 4-star hotel. (2021全国卷Ⅱ完形)
上面一句摘自2021年高考英语全国卷Ⅱ(甲卷)完形填空。
请问,这里的 apology 为什么既没有修饰语也没用复数?
这里的 apology 用作不可数名词,所以不用复数。a letter of apology 意思是“道歉信”,由于这类表达通常表示抽象意义,所以 a letter of后通常接不可数名词。再如:
Julie received a letter of apology from the hospital. 朱莉收到了医院的一封道歉信。
He sat down and composed a letter of resignation. 他坐下来写了一封辞职信。
Neil sent him a letter of condolence. 尼尔给他发了一封唁函。
He stormed into the office, flourishing a letter of complaint. 他挥舞着一封投诉信冲进了办公室。
He asked them for a letter of recommendation/introduction. 他请求他们为他写推荐信/介绍信。
He wrote a letter of acceptance to the company. 他给那家公司去了一封应聘函。
The university has sent me a letter of acceptance. 那所大学给我寄来了录取通知书。
When Robert died, I sent a letter of sympathy to his wife. 罗柏特去世后,我给也南妻子寄了封慰问信。
He’s still waiting for a letter of acknowledgement of the last cheque he sent them. 他还在等待他所寄的上一张支票的确认函。
但 a letter of thanks(感谢信)通常用复数的 thanks,因为 thank 用作名词表示感谢时,通常用复数:
He wrote a letter of thanks to the hospital. 他给医院写了一封感谢信。