关于复数物主代词修饰单数名词的问题

原文如下:

“Does anybody have any questions?” Boomer asked. “Do you like knocking guys on their butts?” I asked. Everybody laughed, even though I didn’t say anything that was funny. Miss Daisy said it was “butt,” not “butts,” because a person only has one butt. But I said a butt was divided into two halves, so really it could be “butts.” Miss Daisy said that was enough of that talk. I said she shouldn’t be complaining because she was the one who started it.

这里(Do you like knocking guys on their butts?)butt 应该用单数吗?意思是每次只能踢一个人的屁股吗?


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最佳答案 2018-01-18 16:47

buttock为解剖术语,指一侧屁股,常用复数形式。但可以用单数表示一侧。

butt是俚语,用法如ass, 含糊的指人的屁股,不分左右。kick sb's ass/butt。当物主代词为复数时,butt用单数较多,但也有用复数的。

knock someone on his butt 意为将某人击倒,屁股着地。on his butt意为屁股着地。

以下为COCA例句

And then he comes back to the ring. And he fights Joe Frazier, and he gets whooped. I mean, Frazier knocks him on his butt with his vicious left hook. Ali gets up. He keeps fighting. This is one of the greatest and most vicious fights in boxing history. 

佛雷泽一记重重的左勾拳将他打得屁股落地。。

I don't know why, but when people fall on their butt, it's hilarious.

fall on their butt 摔了个屁股着地。注意butt用单数。

When she comes out there, she puts on her game face. I've seen people wonder why she's out there, and then she kicks their butt and they're wondering what just hit them.

kick sb's butt 才是踢屁股。注意本句复数人称代词,单数butt.

Of course, they don't say that to my face, because they know I'd kick their butts.

这一句中kick their butts用了复数。

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其它 2 个回答

龙 楠   - 英语教师
擅长:英语

你的句子用单数形式的 butt 也可以的。你的问题涉及英语中的“分配性复数”。所谓分配性复数,就是指在两组人或事物中,其中一组人或事物与另一组人或事物中单独的个体逐一相配,此时表示“逐一相配”的个体名词使用复数形式。比如:

There was a riot when the workers were told they had lost their jobs. 当工人们听说他们失业时,他们进行了暴动。

按理说,每个人只有一个 job,这里的 job 应用单数,但却用了复数。

又如下面一句摘自《韦氏高阶英语词典》,backs 中的 -s 放在括号内,表示可以省略:

You shouldn’t gossip about people behind their back(s).


《牛津英语用法指》以下相关解释可供参考(以下为原文照录):

1. 做同一件事

英语中习惯用复数名词来表示几个人都做同一件事情这种重复性概念。

Tell the kids to bring raincoats to school tomorrow. 告诉孩子们明天上学带雨衣来。

在这种场合下,几乎总是用复数形式与所有格连用。

Tell the children to blow their noses. 告诉孩子们擤一下鼻涕。(不能说:to blow their nose.)

Six people lost their lives in the accident. 六个人在事故中丧生。

不可数名词不用复数。

They were all anxious to increase their knowledge. 他们都渴望提高自己的知识水平。(不能说:... their knowledges.)

2. 反复发生的事情

在描述反复发生的事情时,单数名词和复数名词都可以用。如果没有叙述详细情况,用复数名词更为自然。

I often get headaches. 我经常头痛。

(不能说:I often get a headache.)

She sometimes goes for rides over the hills. 她有时候到山里去骑马。

当描述了事情发生的具体时间或背景时,名词常常为单数。

I often get a headache when I’ve been working on the computer. 当我一直用电脑工作时,我常常头痛。

She often goes for a ride over the hills before supper. 她常常在晚饭前骑马在山里转一圈儿。

为了避免误解也可以用单数名词。

I sometimes throw a stone into the river and wish for good luck. 有时候我往河里扔一块石子,祝愿自己有好运气。

(不能说:I sometimes threw stones... 一次只能扔一块石子。)

提到事情反复发生的时间时,单数和复数常常都可以用,意思上没有太大的区别。

We usually go and see my mother on Saturday(s). 我们通常在星期六去看我母亲。

He’s not at his best in the morning(s). 他早展不是处于最佳状态。

3. 概括和规律

在进行概括和说明规律时,单数和复数都可以用。

We use a past participle in a perfect verb form. (或 We use past participles in perfect verb forms.) 在动词完成时形式里,要用过去分词。

All documents must be accompanied by a translation of the original. (或 All documents must be accompanied by translations of the originals.) 所有文件必须附上原件的译文。

也可以同时用单数和复数。

Subjects agree with their verb. 主语与动词要一致。

Children may resemble both their father and their mother in different ways. 孩子会在不同的方面像他们的父母亲。

与 at the beginning 之类固定的单数表达方式连用时,也常常出现这种情况。

Discourse markers usually come at the beginning of sentences. 话语标记通常出现在句首。

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陈才   - 英语教师
擅长:中考英语,词法问题

 butt  n.屁股 英文解释:Someone's butt is their bottom.

butts为复数,踢屁股不止1个人的屁股,是很多人的屁股,因此需要加复数。

 Frieda grinned, pinching him on the butt.  

弗里达咧嘴笑了,捏了捏他的屁股。


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  • wilbq 提出于 2018-01-15 16:17

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