amount的用法详解

1. amount用作名词

其意为“数量”、“金额”等，通常用于 a (great, large) amount of 这类结构，其后通常接不可数名词。如：

He made a large amount of money. 他赚了大量的钱。

They have to process a large amount of data. 他们得处理大量数据。

I had not expected such an amount of praise. 我没料到受到这么多赞扬。

A large amount of damage was done in a short time. 短期内造成大量损害。

I had not expected such an amount of praise. 我没料想受到这样多的赞扬。

He must memorize large amounts of material. 他必须背熟大量材料。

注意：这类结构用作主语，其谓语的数取决于 amount 的数。如：

在这座桥上花了大量资金。

正: A large amount of money was spent on the bridge.

正: Large amounts of money were spent on the bridge.

比较：在 a great number of 之后通常接可数名词(用复数)。如：

2. amount用作动词

用作动词时意为“合计”、“等于”、“意味着”，通常是不及物动词，其后常接介词 to。如：

Building cost amounts to six million dollars. 建筑费用达600 万元。

Her reply amounts to a refusal. 她的回答等于拒绝。

注意：由于其后接的to为介词，所以后接动词时，该动词要用动名词。如：

这等于是欺骗老师。(from www.yywords.com)

误：This amounts to cheat the teacher.

正：This amounts to cheating the teacher.

析：amount 用作动词，表示“等于”，是不及物动词，其后接的to 为介词。