Re: [文法] 關於data和media

[weisheng0518 (笙)]

※ 引述《anarchy1 (so~)》之銘言：
: data和media後面該接are還是is呢@@
: data是datum的複數形式
: media則是medium的複數
: 所以應該用are嗎??
: 但data are感覺又怪怪的....

* Media

  media 指各種傳播媒介時, 當作複數名詞

   (e.g) The media, especially the Internet, have a very powerful

         influence.

  media 指 the whole group (集合體) 新聞界..., 當作單數名詞

  (e.g) The U.S. media was attacked by the terrorists.

  media 傳統上是 medium 的複數型,只能接複數動詞. 然而, 語言是不斷變化的.

  現在很少用單數形式 medium 了, 而 media 這個傳統的複數詞現在變的越來越常用,

  並且即可看成是單數, 也可看成是複數. 用作主詞時, 動詞用複數還是用單數,

  要看具體情況而定.

 再來個例句: The press is a medium of mass communication; so is

             the radio; so is the telephone. They are often collectively

             called "the media." 

  其實 data 也差不多

*Data

   In American English, data is usually a plural noun.

   In technical or formal British English, data is sometimes a

    plural noun, but at other times, it is an uncount noun.

   (e.g)  ... the latest year for which data is available...

   (e.g) To cope with these data, hospitals bought large

         mainframe computers.



Reference:

 1. "你的英文又錯了" Dennis Le Boeuf

 2. Collins Cobuild, English Dictionary for Advanced Learners
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推 smartia:good explanation. could i forward this post？
推 intefan:另一種解釋是大多數人不了解這些拉丁字的單複數쌠
→ intefan:因此是一種典型的積非成是的例子.
推 intefan:其實文法分析本身也是種hindsight..my opinion..
推 dale:我比較同意 intefan 所述。