在英语写作中，有很多同学把握不好名词的数以及一些集合名词的用法。名词单复数变动的依据主要有以下三种：一是名词本身属于单数还是复数，二是根据名词前的修饰成分，三是根据上下文的逻辑关系，看该名词在句子中指代的是单数还是复数。请看实例：
误用：This is irrelevant and, if I may say so, a rather naughty remark.
改为：This is an irrelevant and, if I may say so, a rather naughty remark.
说明：句中的irrelevant 是修饰名词 remark 的，由于 remark 为单数可数名词，所以应在修饰它的形容词前使用合适的限定词，根据后面的 a rather naughty 可知，这个限定词应是不定冠词。注意不要从汉语习惯出发，漏掉该用的不定冠词。
句意：这话毫不相干，而且要是可以这样说的话，还相当低级。
误用：Before the boys could answer, angry voice was heard outside.
改为：Before the boys could answer, an angry voice was heard outside.
说明：voice 为可数名词，在用作单数时，其前应有适当的限定词。注意不要从汉语习惯出发，漏掉该用的限定词。
句意：男孩们还来不及作出解答，就从外面传来愤怒的声音。
误用：Considering that they are such important part of undergraduate courses, lectures are often presented in a remarkably poor manner.
改为：Considering that they are such an important part of undergraduate courses, lectures are often presented in a remarkably poor manner.
说明：句中的 part 为可数名词，应在修饰它的形容词前加上不定冠词。注意不要从汉语习惯出发，漏掉该用的不定冠词。
句意：鉴于演讲课在大学本科课程中占了很重要的地位，这些课就显得上得非常差。
误用：Undeniably, political stability and human progresses in the country depend on greater economic success.
改为：Undeniably, political stability and human progress in the country depend on greater economic success.
说明：progress（进步）是不可数名词，不用复数形式。
句意：不可否认，国家政治的稳定和人的进步都依赖于更大的经济繁荣。
误用：I have played a great deal of glamorous women who have broken men’s hearts, so people tend to see me as that sort of person.
改为：I have played a great number of [a lot of] glamorous women who have broken men’s hearts, so people tend to see me as that sort of person.
说明：由于是用于修饰可数的复数名词 women，所以不能用 a great deal of。
句意：我已扮演过许多使男人伤心的、富有魅力的女角色，所以人们往往把我看成是那种人。
误用：Dr Maturin could speak fluently in Latin and Greek, and as for modern language, to Jack’s certain knowledges he spoke half a dozen.
改为：Dr Maturin could speak fluently in Latin and Greek, and as for modern languages, to Jack’s certain knowledge he spoke half a dozen.
说明：modern language 在此指现代各种语言，其中的 language 应用复数；knowledge 为不可数名词，不用复数，to one’s knowledge 为习语，意为“据某人所知”。
句意：st1:PersonName ProductID="马图林" w:st="on">马图林博士能流利地用拉丁语和希腊语说话。至于现代语言，据杰克的可靠消息，他会讲六种。
误用：He previously worked in the Ministry of Finance. He comes, therefore, with a great deal of experiences and expertises.
改为：He previously worked in the Ministry of Finance. He comes, therefore, with a great deal of experience and expertise.
说明：experience 表示“经验”时，为不可数名词，没有复数形式；但表示“经历”时，则可数。expertise（专门知识）也是一个不可数名词，也没有复数形式。
句意：他以前在财政部工作过。因此他来的时候已有丰富经验和专门知识。
误用：On their travels they indulged their hobby of collecting antique furnitures. As a result their home had become something of a museum.
改为：On their travels they indulged their hobby of collecting antique furniture. As a result their home had become something of a museum.
说明：furniture（家具）是一个典型的不可数名词，没有复数形式。
句意：他们在每次旅行时，尽兴地满足自己收集古董家具的嗜好。结果他们家成了类似博物馆的地方。
误用：Now supposing there was such a piece of stamp, and supposing it was worth a million dollars. And supposing the man who owned it suddenly came into possession of a second piece of stamp, its duplicate. What do you think would be the valve of each of those two pieces of stamp?
改为：Now supposing there was such a stamp, and supposing it was worth a million dollars. And supposing the man who owned it suddenly came into possession of a second stamp, its duplicate. What do you think would be the valve of each of those two stamps?
说明：stamp（邮票）是可数名词，其前可直接用不定冠词或数词修饰，也可用复数形式，而不能借助 a piece of 表示“一张”。
句意：假定有这样一张邮票，假定这张邮票值100万美元。然后又假定这张邮票的主人一下子有了第二张邮票，即第一张邮票的复制品，你认为这两张邮票各值多少钱？
