冠詞、讀過並且明白 - 古德明

冠詞、讀過並且明白 - 古德明

問:以下兩句,understanding(理解力)之前為什麼一用a,一不用?──(1)That child shows a surprising understanding of adult behaviour(那孩子對成年人行為了解之深,令人驚訝)。(2)One who is cool in spirit has understanding(為人沉着,則悟性高)。
答:Understanding一般作不可數名詞(uncountable noun),不過,說某些性質的不可數名詞,假如加以規限或界定,有時可冠以a或an。請比較以下兩句:(1)She surpasses us all in wisdom and beauty(她的智慧、美貌,我們沒有一人比得上)。(2)She possesses a wisdom that is beyond our grasp, and a beauty that time cannot destroy(她的智慧,非我們所能了解;她的美貌,非時間所能摧殘)。第一句的wisdom和beauty,是泛指,所以不可冠以a;第二句的wisdom和beauty,有界定,所以須加冠詞,但仍算是不可數名詞。讀者示下那兩句,第一句專言對某事的了解,所以understanding之前加冠詞;第二句是泛指悟性,所以不可說an understanding。
問:要說「我讀過並明白文件內容」,以下那個說法正確?──I have read and understand / understood the document。
答:兩個說法都正確,很難說那個較好。I have read and understand等於I have read and I now understand,那understand指讀過之後,現在明白了;I have read and understood則等於I have read and have understood,那have understood指讀時沒有不明白。