（二）．按概数的构成分类
1．以容器量化的方式表达概数: a bag of, two baskets of,
a mouthful of, a plate of, a pot of, a mug of, a pack of ( 一包 )，
a pail of( 一桶 )，a bowl of, a basin of, three cups of
We bought three bags of groceries.我们买了三袋食品。
They ate a basket of plums.他们吃了一篮李子。
If there’s only a mouthful of food left in the bowl,
I will give it to you.如果有我一口饭，我都让给你。
On the table was a plate of beef and vegetables.
桌上有一盘牛肉和青菜。
Father is a heavy smoker. He smoked a pack of cigarettes a day.
爸爸烟瘾大，一天一包烟。
Two pots of jam were used in cooking.做饭用了两瓶果酱。
I have a mug of milk and some bread for my breakfast.
我喝一大杯牛奶吃一点面包作为早餐。
2．用介词结构表达概数: in large quantities, in great numbers,
in large amounts, , in pairs, in groups, in pieces, in dozens,
in scores, in one’s thousands, in one’s thirties, in bulk,
in multitude, in plenty, in the 1990’s, in quantity, in pack,
by ones and twos, by twos and threes , over..., around…, about…,
below…, more than…, without numbers
Pack them in dozens.论打包装。
He is a young man in his thirties.他是一位30多岁的年轻人。
People came in scores.大家结队而来。
Activities are coming forward in great numbers.活动积极分子纷纷涌向前来。
They wandered off in pairs and chatted about their own affairs.
他们成双成对结伴而行，聊着家常小事。
Things are usually cheaper if they are bought in bulk.
批量采购会便宜一些。
Resources in plenty can be found in this territory.
本地能找到丰富的资源。
The farms have water in plenty to last through the dry season.
农场水源充足，可供旱季使用。
Heroic fighters emerged in multitude.
英勇的战士大量涌现。
It is often less expensive to buy goods in quantity.
批量购物要便宜不少。
Some people are standing about in small groups under the tree.
人们站在树下，三五成群。
People began to leave the meeting by ones and twos.
大家三三两两地离开会场。
Wolves hunt in packs.狼成群捕食。
3．借比喻或引申表达概数: a mountain of, an ocean of, oceans of,
bags of( 很多 ), a dose of（ 大量 ），a stream of,
a suggestion of ( 一点点 ), a suspicion of（ 少许 ）
He has a mountain of dirty clothes to wash.
他有一大堆脏衣服要洗。
A mountain of letters arrived just after the report.
报告之后信件纷至沓来。
Oceans of time and money were/ An ocean of time
and money was spent on the project.大量时间和大批资金都投入到这项工程。
No need to be hurried. We have bags of time.
不必着急，我们有充足的时间。
There were bags of opportunities, but they lost them all.
机会众多，但他们都错过了。
In the accident, the workers received a heavy dose of radiation.
工人在事故中受到严重幅射。
Streams of cars were passing by.一串串汽车急驰而过。
There was a suggestion of boredom in his tone.在他声音里有一丝疲乏。
She added a suspicion of garlic to the stew.他在?肉里加了一点蒜。
There was a suspicion of tears in her eyes.他的眼中有一丝泪痕。
三．谈谈介词的否定意义
介词在英语中属于“小词”，事实上介词在英语中发挥的效力可不小。
介词在英语中起着＂螺丝钉”的作用，它随处可见，且功能强大。
其功能之一就是，它可以和介词宾语一起构成许多否定意义的成语或词组。
介词否定表达简捷明意义深刻，其译文多采用译。
