plural
/ˈplʊərəl/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈplʊrəl/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈplʊə.rəl/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈplʊr.əl/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈplu̇r-əl/ (ame, mw)
plural — 名詞
- pluralsingular
- pluralsplural
1. in grammar, the word shape used for talking about two or more people or things.
複數
文法中表示多於一個的形式
in grammar, the word shape used for talking about two or more people or things.
In English class, Ms. Lee explained that children is the plural of child.
英文課上，Lee 老師解釋 children 是 child 的複數。
the plural of + singular noun
The plural of mouse confused Ben during Friday's spelling quiz.
在星期五的拼字小考裡，mouse 的複數讓 Ben 很困惑。
Our teacher wrote the plural beside each singular noun on the board.
老師在黑板上把複數寫在每個單數名詞旁邊。
After dinner, Nora asked whether cactus has two acceptable plurals.
晚餐後，Nora 問 cactus 是否有兩個可接受的複數。
The worksheet asked students to change each word into its plural.
那張練習單要學生把每個字改成它的複數。
- plural form
the most common grammar phrase for this meaning.
- word in the plural
a longer teaching phrase rather than a fixed technical term.
- singular
the form used for one person or thing.
文法句型
the plural of + singular noun
in the plural
用法筆記
Often appears in the pattern 'the plural of X is Y' or in explanations such as 'write the noun in the plural'. Distinguish from adjective sense 3, where 'plural' describes another grammar word, as in 'a plural noun'.
常見錯誤
plural — 形容詞
- pluralpositive
- more pluralcomparative
- most pluralsuperlative
1. showing the grammar form used for two or more people or things.
複數的
文法上表示多於一個的
showing the grammar form used for two or more people or things.
At the whiteboard, Mr. Chen showed that 'these' is plural and 'this' is singular.
在白板前，Chen 老師說明 'these' 是複數，'this' 是單數。
be plural / singular in grammar
Ms. Wang asked the class to circle every plural noun in blue.
Wang 老師請全班用藍筆圈出每一個複數的名詞。
plural + noun
While marking Mina's quiz, Mr. Lin said -s often marks a plural form.
批改 Mina 的小考時，Lin 老師說 -s 常常標示複數形式。
On the worksheet, women and children were the only plural words.
在那張練習單上，women 和 children 是唯一的複數字詞。
During the game, Leo forgot that feet is plural, not singular.
遊戲進行時，Leo 忘了 feet 是複數，不是單數。
- non-singular
a more technical grammar label used in linguistics.
- singular
the grammar form used for one person or thing.
文法句型
plural + noun
be plural
用法筆記
This is the grammar sense used before words like 'noun', 'pronoun', 'form', and 'ending', or after forms such as 'these' and 'feet'. Distinguish from noun sense 1: the noun names the category itself, while this adjective describes a word as belonging to that category.
常見錯誤
2. made up of many different kinds of people, ideas, or things.
多元的
由不同族群或種類組成
made up of many different kinds of people, ideas, or things.
Our school serves a plural community with families from twenty countries.
我們學校服務的是一個多元的社群，家庭來自二十個國家。
formal: plural + community
The city has a plural society shaped by many languages and religions.
這座城市有一個多元社會，由許多語言和宗教共同形塑。
City Hall planned a festival for the town's plural culture.
市政廳為這座城鎮的多元文化規劃了一場節慶。
The museum shows the island's plural history through photos and family letters.
博物館透過照片和家書呈現這座島嶼多元的歷史。
- diverse
more common and less formal in everyday English.
- mixed
everyday word for things made from different parts or groups.
- multicultural
more specific to different cultures or ethnic groups.
- uniform
emphasizes sameness rather than variety.
文法句型
plural + noun
用法筆記
Formal and usually found before nouns such as 'society', 'culture', 'community', or 'history'. Distinguish from adjective sense 2: this sense stresses different kinds within the whole, not simply a number greater than one.
3. involving several people or several things instead of just one alone.
多方的
涉及不只一人或一物
involving several people or several things instead of just one alone.
The plan reflects the plural interests of farmers, shop owners, and teachers.
這個計畫反映了農民、店主和老師等多方的利益。
formal: plural + interests
After the funeral, the house stayed under plural ownership between two sisters.
葬禮後，那棟房子仍由兩姊妹共同持有，屬於多方所有。
The club uses plural leadership, with three adults sharing every big decision.
這個社團採用多方的領導方式，由三位大人共同分擔重大決定。
The film gives plural voices to workers, parents, and young students.
這部電影讓工人、家長和年輕學生等不同群體都能發聲。
The clinic faces plural responsibilities to children, parents, and teachers.
這間診所對孩子、家長和老師都負有多方責任。
文法句型
plural + abstract noun
用法筆記
Formal and often used before abstract nouns such as 'interests', 'voices', 'leadership', or 'ownership'. Distinguish from adjective sense 1: this sense only marks that several people or things are involved, without highlighting difference in kind.