The unknown IS 還是 ARE? (用法總整) - 英檢

是The wealthy IS? The wealthy ARE? The unknown IS? The unknown ARE?

定冠詞 (the) + 形容詞 = 名詞的規則

(1) 若是"具象"的概念、用來泛稱全體有某一特質 (Quality) 的人，大多使用"複數"動
詞

Eg. Many studies found that the wealthy are not necessarily happy.
Eg. The dead are treated and remembered in a range of ways from a simple
burial in the old family graveyard to more epic modern treatments
Eg. The illiterate are the poorest, and the poorest simply cannot afford to
be unemployed, so they do some work, even if they are under-employed.

例外:
"Lifestyles of the rich and famous" is... (引號裡的是一部電影名)

(2) 若是用來指稱 "抽象" 的概念，通常使用單數動詞

Eg. The unknown is often more intriguing than the already-known.
Eg. The supernatural is absolutely essential to the Christian faith.


(3) The + 過去分詞式形容詞 ; The +最高級形容詞: 單複數必須由後面 (有時被省的)
名詞決定

Eg. The deceased is survived by a spouse and 3 children. (往生的一個人)
若是指往生的一群人，則用 the deceased are...

Eg. All I can hope for is that the injured are able to recover and that the
families and friends of those deceased are given sentiments and comfort. (受傷
跟往生的都超過一個人)

Eg. The best [ ] is yet to come. 精彩的還在後頭 --- [ ] 裡的是省略的東西，常常
不說，要聽者用Context去推測 (如果是在吃飯，那當然是菜餚、如果是演唱會，可能是
精彩的橋段等).

來源: https://www.facebook.com/AlexanderWangEnglish
https://www.facebook.com/groups/387280044719083/

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