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kjy04_20221030 b_fade
400 400 THOMAS
Learning English with Thomas
2022.10.30
Can we say or write “Disables” ?
可以用Disables 描述行動不便人士嗎?
T: Thomas     J=Jeff   Using the past participle form of a verb to function as an adjective and a noun    J: Thomas, I saw a sign saying “Carpark reserved for Disables” this morning. I had the feeling that it was not quite right. T: Jeff, you’re right. It is not correct. Strictly speaking, the word “disable” is a verb, not a noun, and as a verb it cannot have a plural form.   J: So, what should the right expression be in this case? T: Very simply: “Car Parking Space reserved for Disabled Driver”. I think the sign is trying to indicate that this carpark space is reserved for a car whose driver is a disabled person.   J: Aha. Can we say or write “Car Parking Space reserved for the Disabled”? T: Certainly yes. In this case, we can use the past participle form of the verb “disable”, that is, “the disabled” to refer to the group of people under description, like “the rich”, “the poor”, “the privileged”, etc. See? J: Loud and clear, Sir. And thank you, Sir.   如何運用動詞的過去分詞去建構形容詞和名詞   J: 老師, 今早我在停車場看到一個寫上「Carpark reserved for Disables」的指示牌。我覺得這寫法有點不妥。 T: Jeff,你說得對。這寫法不正確。嚴格來說, 「disable」是一個動詞,而不是名詞;作為動詞時,它不會有複數形態。   J: 那麼,正確的英文表達方式應該是怎樣? T: 其實很簡單,就是:「Car Parking Space reserved for Disabled Driver」我認為這指示牌是指車位是留給行動不便人士使用的。   J: 原來如此。 我們可以改寫成「Car Parking Space reserved for the Disabled」嗎? T: 當然可以。從這例子可見,我們可以動詞「 disable」的過去分詞「the disabled」來描述一個群體, 例如: 「t h e r i c h 」(富人) ,「the poor」(窮人), 「the privileged」(特權人士) 等等,明白嗎? J: 你的解釋很清楚。謝謝老師。