dozen可用复数吗?dozen后要接of吗?你知道dozen的用法吗?请先看下面一道试题:
We already have _________ pencils, but we need two _________ pens.
A. dozen of, dozen B. dozens of, dozens
C. dozens of, dozen D. dozens of, dozen of
此题最佳答案为C。关于dozen的复数是否加词尾-s的问题比较复杂,大致原则是:
1. 当它与具体数字连用时,既不加复数词尾-s,也不后接介词of。尽管有的词书也有 two dozen of 这样的用例,但这已属过时用法,在考试中应避免,如1992年全国高考有一道单项选择题就认为two dozen of为错误选项:
Shortly after the accident, _________ police were sent to the spot to keep order.
A. dozens of B. dozens C. dozen of D. dozen
2. 当它不与具体数字连用,而是表示不确定的泛指数时,则不仅要加复数词尾-s,而且要后接介词 of,此时可将dozens of (许多,几十)视为习语