复数名词前用定冠词的基本原则

复数名词前用定冠词的基本原则

有网友问，如何理解书上说“复数名词前不用冠词”。其实说“复数名词前不用冠词”是不妥的。因为“复数名词前用不用冠词”与说话者是否特指该名词有关。

如果复数名词中表示泛指意义，则其前通常不用定冠词（当然原则上也不会用不定冠词，因为是复数名词嘛）。如：

Trees drop their leaves in autumn. 树木在秋季落叶。

Books may not be taken out of the library. 图书馆的图书不得携出馆外。

Students may not use the staff car park. 学生禁用职工停车场。

People are becoming less tolerant of smoking these days. 如今人们对吸烟较为难以容忍了。

Women now make up two-fifths of the British labour force. 妇女构成英国劳动力的五分之二。

但是，如果复数名词是表特指，意义，则应在其前用定冠词。如：

The books sold out in a week. 书在一周内就售完了。

The apples were ripe enough to pick. 苹果够熟了，可以摘了。

Hurry up! The guests will be arriving at any minute! 快! 客人就要来了!

The children seemed to be awake when I went into their room. 在我进屋时，孩子们似乎醒了。