the 形容詞 = 複數名詞 (the 分詞 = 複數名詞)

 the 形容詞 = 複數名詞

(the 分詞 = 複數名詞)

( 分詞 : 1.現在分詞 : 表 "主動" 的人

2.過去分詞 : 表 "被動" 的人 )

( 具有該特質的人的(全體)集合 )

一. 複數意義的主詞

配 複數動詞(時態)

the old = old people (老人)

the young = young people (年輕人)

the rich = rich people (富人)

the poor = poor people (窮人)

the sick (病人)

the dead (死者)

the brave (勇者)

the needy (窮人, 貧民)

the elderly (年長者, 老人)

the homeless (無家可歸者, 遊民, 街友)

the employed (就業者, 員工)

the unemployed (失業者)

the disabled (殘障人士, 身障人士)

the injured (受傷者, 一般傷者(非被武器) )

the wounded (受傷者(被武器), 指戰爭裡)

the living (生者)

the killed (被殺者)

例1.

The young is

the future of the country.(誤)

The young are

the future of the country.(正)

(年輕人是國家的未來.)

例2.

The injured was

sent to the hospital.(誤)

The injured were

sent to the hospital.(正)

(傷者被送到醫院.)

但是,

以 and 連接兩個詞性相對的形容詞時,

定冠詞 the 可以(被)省略.

例3.

The movie appeals to

the young and the old.(不佳)

The movie appeals to

young and old.(佳)

(這部電影吸引 年輕人和老人.)

二. the + 過去分詞 :

表 具有該特質(特定的)人,

可 單數, 也可 複數

1.the deceased : 死者

( the deceased : 可能單數, 或複數,

但 the dead : 必 複數(全體) )

2.the accused : 被告

例4.

The accused was

sentenced to ten years in prison.(正)

(該被告 被判 十年徒刑.)

例5.

The accused were

sentenced to ten years in prison.(正)

(那些被告 都被判 十年徒刑.)

例6.

The accused were

two young people

from a rich family.(正)

(被告是 兩個

來自於富裕家庭的年輕人.)

另外,

三. the + (某)國家的

= 該國家全體人民(用 複數動詞時態)

the American = American people

(全體)美國人

the Japanese = Japanese people

(全體)日本人

the Chinese = Chinese people

(全體)中國人

例7.

The Chinese believe

( that ) feng shui has a lot

to do with one's luck in life.

(中國人相信

風水跟一個人一生的運勢

有很大的關係.)