I have another great lesson for you today based on a request... a few requests actually from our www.engvid.com site.

今天，我要教你們一堂非常實用的文法課，是來自www.engvid.com.的觀眾所要求的

Today we're going to look at collective nouns.

今天，我們要來看的是集合名詞

An example of a collective noun: "staff," "police," "audience," "family."

像是：「staff（全體職員）」、「police（警察）」、「audience（觀眾）」、「family（家人）」

These are nouns that might include individual members or be looked at as a whole unit. Okay?

這些集合名詞可以把群體看成若單個或視作為一個整體

So: "staff" means the total group of employees or it could mean each individual employee.

所以：「staff」意思是全體員工，也可以指全體員工中的個別員工

So, now you're thinking: "Okay, well, good. What's the problem?" The problem is: what verb do you use with these nouns?

所以，現在，你們可能都在想：「恩，那問題是什麼？」。問題是：「這些集合名詞要用單數動詞還是複數動詞？」

Do you use a singular verb or do you use a plural verb? Okay?

你們要用單數動詞還是複數動詞？

So, for example: do you say: "The staff was invited to the BBQ." or do you say: "The staff were invited to the BBQ." ?

例如：你們會說：「全部員工都被邀請到燒烤聚會（was）」還是你們會說「每位員工都被邀請到燒烤聚會（were）」？

I'm afraid I have to tell you there's actually no rule that decides this. What decides this is you.

我很抱歉的是這個並沒有一個既定規則。就看你們想表達的是什麼

What do you want to say? What is your intention?

你們想要說的是什麼？你們的目的？

Do you want to talk about the individuals or do you want to talk about the group?

你們想講的是群體中的個體還是一個整體？

So, for example, look at this sentence: "My staff consists of young and old alike."

一起來看這個例子：「我全部員工有資深的也有資淺的」

"Alike" is basically like "both," both young and old. Now, why am I using the singular?

「Alike（相像的）」基本上指的是「both（兩方都）」，不管是資深或是資淺的員工。現在，為什麼我這例子用單數動詞（consists of）？

Because here, I'm talking about my entire staff, my whole collection of employees. Right?

因為，在這裡我講的是我的整體員工、全部員工

So I'm probably going to use the singular because I'm talking about the one unit.

所以，這邊我會用單數動詞。因為，我講的是一個整體

Here, I could say both; I could say: "My staff," my entire unit of employees

這裡，有兩個說法，我可以說：「My staff」我全部員工

or I could talk about all the individual people who work for me were invited to the BBQ.

但，我也可以說，我邀請公司裡的每位員工來燒烤聚會

So, again, it's more about what you want to intend... What you want to say, what you intend.

所以，記得，這要看你們想指的是什麼、想表達的是什麼、目的是什麼

Sorry, you don't want to intend anything. Okay? Here's another example:

不好意思，沒有want to intend這種用法。這裡還有另一個例子：

"My family are going to be citizens soon." "My family was invited to a wedding."

「我全家（家裡的每個人）很快都將成為公民（are）」和「我們家（全家人）被邀請去參加一場婚禮（was）」

I have a plural, I have the singular; it depends what you want to say.

我有複數動詞、也有單數動詞。主要就是看你們想表達的是什麼

"My family" - means all the members of my family - "are going to be citizens soon."

「我的家人」－指的是家裡的每一個人－「很快都將成為公民（are）」

It makes a bit more sense when you also have the plural here, "are" and "citizens."

這裡，你們有複數名詞「citizens」，用複數動詞「are」是合乎情理的

It sounds a little bit more natural. "My family was invited to the wedding."

這樣聽起來也比較自然。「我們家（全家人）被邀請去參加一場婚禮（was）」

The Smiths, we... My family is the Smiths, so when the invitation came,

我們是Smiths家。所以，當邀請函來到時

the Smiths are cordially invited to attend the wedding of Jack and Jill who last week went up the hill.

上面寫著很誠摯地邀請Smiths全家人到Jack和Jill的婚禮，他們上週一起爬山（Jack 和 Jill是一首童謠詩歌）

I'm not sure if you know this little poem. Anyway, so the same thing goes for "police," "audience," "couple," "faculty."

我不確定你們知不知道這首小詩。不管怎樣，「police」、「audience」、「couple」、和「faculty」這些集合名詞也是同樣道理

Lots of collective nouns. Depends what you want to say.

很多的集合名詞。看你們想表達的意思

Now, usually... And keep in mind: this is also difficult for native English speakers to decide which one.

通常，要記住的是：這個對英文母語者來說也是很難分辨的

Keep in mind that usually in the U.S. and Canada, most people will automatically choose the singular:

只要記得，通常在美國和加拿大，大多數的人都會毫無疑惑的選用單數動詞

"The staff is," "The police is," again, depending on the situation.

「全體員工is」、「警察is」，不要忘記，看你們想表達的意思

In the U.K., they will naturally or usually go for the plural: "The staff are," "The police are."

在英國，人們通常都會用複數動詞，像是：「全體員工are」、「警察are」

Now, again, let's look at: "police." I'll give you two examples.

我們來看看：「police」。這裡有兩個例子

Somebody was bothering my neighbor. Okay? And like they were like making noise.

一位男子在侵擾我的鄰居，他們發出吵雜聲

My neighbour asked the person to leave. The person wouldn't leave, so she called the police.

我的鄰居要他離開。但，他拒絕。所以，她報警

They - the police - they came and removed this person.

他們－警察－到場帶離男子

But, I have to be very careful driving these days because the police is cracking down on texters; people who drive and text.

但，這幾天，我要非常小心地開車。因為，警察在抓開車傳簡訊的人

I don't do that, but I've seen them around. Right?

我不會做這件事。但，我有注意到這個現象

So this... You have to be careful which meaning you want to use.

所以，你們要注意哪種意思是你們想表達的

Sometimes it'll be very natural, like I would only use the singular here because I'm talking about the whole unit.

這裡，有時候我會很自然地用單數動詞。因為，我講的是一個整體

Here, both okay. Do you want to talk about the individuals?

這裡，單複數動詞都可以。你們想講的是群體中的個體？

Do you want to talk about the group, the whole group? Now, if you want to be specific,

還是你們想講的是一個整體？現在，如果你們想表達得更準確

if you very clearly want to show that you're talking about the individuals, add a word: "staff members,"

像是，如果你們想明確地指出一個群體中的個體，可以加上members或是officers：「staff members」、

"family members," "police officers." If you add these words that show the individuals,

「family members」、和「police officers」。如果你們加上members，指的是群體中的個體

you will have absolutely no problem. If I say: "staff members," obviously the verb will be plural because this is now the main subject.

那你們絕對知道要用什麼樣的動詞。如果我說：「staff members」毋庸自疑就是要用複數動詞。因為，members為主詞

And "staff" becomes the adjective, "family" becomes the adjective. Okay?

「staff」成形容詞，「family」也成了形容詞

If I say: "police officers," "police" becomes the adjective, this is my subject,

那如果我說：「police officers（警察）」，「police」是形容詞，officers則是主詞

and I'm going to use a plural verb. If I want to say one person,

所以，我要用的是複數動詞。如果我想說的是一個人

one police officer, then of course I'm going to be talking... using the singular. Okay?

一位警察。當然，我要用單數動詞

So, again, very straightforward. Whatever you intend to do, that's what will help you choose the verb.

所以，這非常簡單明瞭。不管你們想表達的是什麼，這是能幫助你們選對動詞的好方式

But if you're not sure, go to: www.engvid.com. There's a quiz there where you can get a little bit more practice.

但，如果你們還有任何遲疑，來www.engvid.com看看。那裡會有小測驗，你們可以試看看

And, of course, visit my YouTube site, subscribe if you like.

當然，不要忘記拜訪我的Youtube頻道。如果你們喜歡我的課程，也歡迎訂閱

And I'll see you again real soon.

我們很快會再見面的，謝謝你們的收看