2012年托福考试语法辅导：只接复数名词的限定词

只接复数名词的限定词

　　a (large /small /great /considerable /remarkable) number of, a variety of, a set of, a few, 等表示数的固定词组之后总是接复数名词

　　例题:

　　(1)
　　In mathematical terms, modern algebra is set of objects with rules for connecting or relating those objects.
　　应改为: is a set

　　解释: a set of是固定词组, 表示一套、一组, 后面接可数名词的复数, 与题中objects吻合
　　(2)

　　At birth, an infant exhibits a remarkable number of motor response.

　　应改为: responses

　　解释: 短语a number of 后面要求接可数名词的复数, number前可加某些形容词如great, considerable, remarkable, small 等表示a lot of 或 a few

　　注意 “the number of” 和 “a number of”的区别

　　The number of boys in Class Five is 25. (五班男孩的数目是25，后面谓语动词用单数)

　　A small number of families are able to afford an apartment. (少数家庭能够买得起一套住房, )