I haven't much faith in him.
The public has lost faith in the government.
Note.
destroy/restore sb’s faith
favorite of + 代名詞
an old/firm/particular favorite
Her books are particular favorites of those who like thrills.
Her book is the favorite of mine.
favorite with + 受格
Her books are firm favorites with children.
Note. favorite 當名詞用時可數。
You always were Dad’s favorite.
play favorites : treat one person better than others
The boss insisted he doesn’t play favorites.
feature of
An important feature of Van Gogh’s paintings is their bright colors.
fondness for
She has a fondness for cars.
Note. fondness 為不可數名詞，但在 have a fondness for 中是可數，要加 a。
a genius for (doing) sth (大多跟 has 連用：have a genius for 或 develop a genius for)
That woman has a genius for mathematics.
Note. genius [C or U]
(1) 為不可數名詞時，意思為｢天資、ability｣
Le Corbusier was an architect of genius.
a stroke of genius/inspiration (=a very clever idea)
At the time, his decision seemed a stroke of genius.
a work of pure genius
(2) 為可數名詞時，意思為｢天才｣，指人
a genius at sth
Le Corbusier was a genius at architecture.
graduate (of + 學校) (in + 領域)
She is a graduate of Harvard University.
She is a graduate in engineerining.
Note.
(1) graduate 意思為｢畢業生｣，可數
university graduates
a history graduate
a high-school graduate
(2) graduate 也可以作動詞，此時搭配的介係詞稍微有點不一樣：
graduate (from + 學校) (in + 領域)
She graduated from Harvard last year.
She graduated from medical school last year.
She graduated from high school last year.
He graduated in physics from Cambridge University.
ground(s) for (理由)
You haven't much ground for complaints.
= You haven't many grounds for complaints.
guess at
make a (rough/wild) guess at
Let's make a wild guess at whom he was referring to, shall we?
take a guess at
Go on, take a guess at how much it cost.
Note.
(1) guess 是可數名詞
‘How did you know?’ ‘It was just a lucky guess.’
I’d say she’s about 30, but that’s only a guess.
(2) 常用片語
my guess is (that)
My guess is that they won't make it.
hazard a guess (=guess something, when you feel very uncertain)
No one at this stage is prepared to hazard a guess about the outcome of the elections.
be anybody’s guess: to be something that no one knows
Where she lives is anybody’s guess.
(3) guess 也可以是動詞 (及物或不及物)
I’m only guessing.
What star sign are you? No, let me guess. Are you an Aries? (星座問法！)
guess right/correctly/wrong
If you guess right, you have another turn.
It’s hard to guess his age.
guess at
We can only guess at the cause of the crash.
guess what/who/how etc
Let me guess who you are.
I guessed from his expression that he already knew about what I was about to tell him.
heir to
He is heir to the fortune.
The king needed an heir to the throne.
注意：be heir to 中 heir 前可以不加冠詞。
help for
The government should do more to provide help for people who are looking for work.
hindrance to
The floods have been a major hindrance to relief efforts.
Pistols might be secondary, even a hindrance.
Note. hindrance 可為可數或不可數名詞：
Visitors are allowed to wander without hindrance.
hopes for
We still have hopes for an end to the fighting.
hope(s) of
Rita has hopes of studying to be a nurse.
It was the rush hour, and there was no/little hope of getting a seat.
There’s still a faint hope (=a very small chance) that the two sides will reach an agreement.
Note.
in the hope that
in the hope of
hurry for
There is no hurry for the book.
Note. in one's hurry to do sth
In his hurry to leave the room, he tripped over a chair.
impediment to
War is one of the greatest impediments to human progress.
Note. impediment 是可數名詞。
He has a speech impediment.
independence from/of [U]
The country eventually got/gained/achieved/won its independence from Spain.
Gradually schools gained a certain amount of independence from the Church.
Note.
independent of
The reports from the two separate sources are entirely independent of one another.
He became independent of his parents by the time he was eighteen.
We need a central bank that is independent of the government.
influence on/over
Her father had a bad influence on his children.
Note. influence 是可數名詞或不可數名詞。
interest in (對...方面的興趣)
Our teacher encouraged our interest in science.
He showed an interest in science.
My daughter began to take an interest in music, but soon lost interest.
Note. interest 是不可數名詞或單數名詞。
has an interest in (interest 在這是單數名詞)
aroused considerable interest (interest 在這是不可數名詞)
with great interest (interest 在這是不可數名詞)
Note.
(1) interest 表示｢興趣、嗜好｣ 時，為可數名詞。
My interests include jogging and swimming. (因為大部分人都不只一種嗜好，故用複數)
My main interest has been swimming. (主要嗜好只有一個時，用單數)
(2) interest 表示｢利息｣時，為不可數名詞
interest on
The interest on the loan is 10% per year.
How much are the monthly interest payments?
The more you save, the more interest you’ll earn.
an account that pays higher interest
compound interest
simple interest
interest rate
(3) interest 表示｢利益｣時，為可數或不可數名詞
The regulations were introduced in order to safeguard the interests of local fishing communities.
We have to balance economic interests and environmental interests.
be in sb's/sth’s (best) interest(s) (to do sth)
It was in the girl’s best interests to remain with her mother.
It is in the public interest that these facts are made known.
have sb’s (best) interests at heart
He has your best interests at heart, you know.
in the interest(s) of justice/safety/efficiency
The race was postponed in the interests of safety.
(4) interest 相關片語：
(just) out of interest/as a matter of interest
Just out of interest, how much did they offer you?
knowledge of/about
He doesn't have much knowledge of science.
the need to increase knowledge about birth control
Note.
(1) knowledge 不可數
Expert knowledge is necessary.
This is a useful piece of knowledge.
increase/improve/broaden/expand your knowledge (of sth)
(2) knowledge 也可解釋為｢知道某事｣。
He denied all knowledge of the robbery.
I had no knowledge of this whatsoever until you told me.
be common/public knowledge
Their affair is public knowledge.
to (the best of) sb’s knowledge
To our knowledge, they're not going to the party.
"Is he coming to the party?" "Not to my knowledge. (= I don't think so)"
with/without sb’s knowledge
He was annoyed to find the contract had been signed without his knowledge.
She acted with the full knowledge of her boss.
lack of
Lack of money was the reason why the plan failed.
She suffered from lack of sleep.
Too many teachers are treated with a lack of respect.
She looked at him with a distinct/marked/conspicuous lack of enthusiasm.
marriage to
Her marriage to my brother went wrong because they married too young.
marriage between
When will we legalize marriage between gay couples.
Note. marriage 為可數或不可數名詞。
I think they’re too young for marriage.
She has three daughters from a previous marriage.
match for
You are no match for the champion.
That shirt’s a perfect match for your pants.
matter for
This is a matter for complaint.
a matter for negotiation
Note.
(1) 上面句子的 matter 等於 a subject or situation under consideration。
Let's get to the heart of the matter/subject.
(2) matters (複數型) 表示 the present state of affairs; a situation that you are in
How can we improve matters?
We can do nothing to change matters.
To complicate matters further / To make matters worse, the law on this issue has been changed.
His long absences didn’t help matters.
(3) matter 表示｢物質｣時，為不可數名詞。
particles of matter
matter of
It’s only/just a matter of time/opinion/principle.
It’s a matter of (personal) taste/choice/preference.
mercy on [U]
God have mercy on his soul.
Note.
(1) showed mercy to
He showed no mercy to his enemies.
(2) at the mercy of
After the boat’s motor failed, they were at the mercy of fate.
She was completely at his mercy.
(3) it’s a mercy (that)
It’s a mercy that the accident happened so near the hospital.
(4) leave sb to sb’s (tender) mercies
(5) Don't beg/cry/plead for mercy.
necessity/need for (｢必要｣、｢必需｣，為不可數名詞)
Our teacher emphasized the necessity for hard working.
Note. 表示｢必需品｣時，為可數。跟 luxury 反意。
She saw books as a necessity, not a luxury.
A car is an absolute necessity if you live in the country.
A lot of families cannot even afford to buy the bare/basic necessities of life.
There is no need for alarm.
objection to
He had moral objections to killing animals.
Note.
(1)
over the objections of sb (=in spite of sb's objections)
The bill was passed over the objections of many Democrats.
(2)
object 是動詞
If no one objects, he will be our leader.
object to (doing) sth
He strongly objected to the terms of the contract.
He strongly objected to accepting the terms of the contract.
object that
Some people object that the new road will create more traffic.
"He's not my boyfriend," the child objected.
obstruction of
You will be charged with obstruction of justice/a public footpath.
There is no obstruction of his airway.
He was found guilty of obstruction of justice.
Note. obstruction 可以是可數或不可數名詞。
They’re going to operate on an obstruction in her airway.
The doctors are doing/carrying out/performing an operation to remove an obstruction from her throat.
occasion for [S]
This is not an occasion for laughter.
= This is not an occasion to laugh.
That was the occasion for telling her the truth.
Note. phrases
(1) on occasion = sometimes
On occasion, prisoners were allowed visits from their families.
(2) on ... occasion(s)
I’ve seen him have fights on several occasions.
She had met him on two separate occasions.
offense against
He had admitted sex offences against children.
offense of
He had committed the offence of dangerous driving.
Note.
(1) offence 意思為 crime 時，可數。
(2) 因為 offend 某人而讓人感到 offence，此時 offence 不可數。
take offence (at sth)
Don't take offence at my words.
cause/give offence
The problem was how to say ‘no’ to her without causing offence.
meant no offence
I meant no offense.
(3) 讓人感到 offended 的東西，可以用 offence，此時可數。
offence to
a building that is an offence to good taste
(4) 意思為｢攻擊｣，不可數。
the weapons of offence used during the attack
order for
The government has placed an order for new weapons.
an old/firm/particular favorite
Her books are particular favorites of those who like thrills.
Her book is the favorite of mine.
favorite with + 受格
Her books are firm favorites with children.
Note. favorite 當名詞用時可數。
You always were Dad’s favorite.
play favorites : treat one person better than others
The boss insisted he doesn’t play favorites.
feature of
An important feature of Van Gogh’s paintings is their bright colors.
fondness for
She has a fondness for cars.
Note. fondness 為不可數名詞，但在 have a fondness for 中是可數，要加 a。
a genius for (doing) sth (大多跟 has 連用：have a genius for 或 develop a genius for)
That woman has a genius for mathematics.
Note. genius [C or U]
(1) 為不可數名詞時，意思為｢天資、ability｣
Le Corbusier was an architect of genius.
a stroke of genius/inspiration (=a very clever idea)
At the time, his decision seemed a stroke of genius.
a work of pure genius
(2) 為可數名詞時，意思為｢天才｣，指人
a genius at sth
Le Corbusier was a genius at architecture.
graduate (of + 學校) (in + 領域)
She is a graduate of Harvard University.
She is a graduate in engineerining.
Note.
(1) graduate 意思為｢畢業生｣，可數
university graduates
a history graduate
a high-school graduate
(2) graduate 也可以作動詞，此時搭配的介係詞稍微有點不一樣：
graduate (from + 學校) (in + 領域)
She graduated from Harvard last year.
She graduated from medical school last year.
She graduated from high school last year.
He graduated in physics from Cambridge University.
ground(s) for (理由)
You haven't much ground for complaints.
= You haven't many grounds for complaints.
guess at
make a (rough/wild) guess at
Let's make a wild guess at whom he was referring to, shall we?
take a guess at
Go on, take a guess at how much it cost.
Note.
(1) guess 是可數名詞
‘How did you know?’ ‘It was just a lucky guess.’
I’d say she’s about 30, but that’s only a guess.
(2) 常用片語
my guess is (that)
My guess is that they won't make it.
hazard a guess (=guess something, when you feel very uncertain)
No one at this stage is prepared to hazard a guess about the outcome of the elections.
be anybody’s guess: to be something that no one knows
Where she lives is anybody’s guess.
(3) guess 也可以是動詞 (及物或不及物)
I’m only guessing.
What star sign are you? No, let me guess. Are you an Aries? (星座問法！)
guess right/correctly/wrong
If you guess right, you have another turn.
It’s hard to guess his age.
guess at
We can only guess at the cause of the crash.
guess what/who/how etc
Let me guess who you are.
I guessed from his expression that he already knew about what I was about to tell him.
heir to
He is heir to the fortune.
The king needed an heir to the throne.
注意：be heir to 中 heir 前可以不加冠詞。
help for
The government should do more to provide help for people who are looking for work.
hindrance to
The floods have been a major hindrance to relief efforts.
Pistols might be secondary, even a hindrance.
Note. hindrance 可為可數或不可數名詞：
Visitors are allowed to wander without hindrance.
hopes for
We still have hopes for an end to the fighting.
hope(s) of
Rita has hopes of studying to be a nurse.
It was the rush hour, and there was no/little hope of getting a seat.
There’s still a faint hope (=a very small chance) that the two sides will reach an agreement.
Note.
in the hope that
in the hope of
hurry for
There is no hurry for the book.
Note. in one's hurry to do sth
In his hurry to leave the room, he tripped over a chair.
impediment to
War is one of the greatest impediments to human progress.
Note. impediment 是可數名詞。
He has a speech impediment.
independence from/of [U]
The country eventually got/gained/achieved/won its independence from Spain.
Gradually schools gained a certain amount of independence from the Church.
Note.
independent of
The reports from the two separate sources are entirely independent of one another.
He became independent of his parents by the time he was eighteen.
We need a central bank that is independent of the government.
influence on/over
Her father had a bad influence on his children.
Note. influence 是可數名詞或不可數名詞。
interest in (對...方面的興趣)
Our teacher encouraged our interest in science.
He showed an interest in science.
My daughter began to take an interest in music, but soon lost interest.
Note. interest 是不可數名詞或單數名詞。
has an interest in (interest 在這是單數名詞)
aroused considerable interest (interest 在這是不可數名詞)
with great interest (interest 在這是不可數名詞)
Note.
(1) interest 表示｢興趣、嗜好｣ 時，為可數名詞。
My interests include jogging and swimming. (因為大部分人都不只一種嗜好，故用複數)
My main interest has been swimming. (主要嗜好只有一個時，用單數)
(2) interest 表示｢利息｣時，為不可數名詞
interest on
The interest on the loan is 10% per year.
How much are the monthly interest payments?
The more you save, the more interest you’ll earn.
an account that pays higher interest
compound interest
simple interest
interest rate
(3) interest 表示｢利益｣時，為可數或不可數名詞
The regulations were introduced in order to safeguard the interests of local fishing communities.
We have to balance economic interests and environmental interests.
be in sb's/sth’s (best) interest(s) (to do sth)
It was in the girl’s best interests to remain with her mother.
It is in the public interest that these facts are made known.
have sb’s (best) interests at heart
He has your best interests at heart, you know.
in the interest(s) of justice/safety/efficiency
The race was postponed in the interests of safety.
(4) interest 相關片語：
(just) out of interest/as a matter of interest
Just out of interest, how much did they offer you?
knowledge of/about
He doesn't have much knowledge of science.
the need to increase knowledge about birth control
Note.
(1) knowledge 不可數
Expert knowledge is necessary.
This is a useful piece of knowledge.
increase/improve/broaden/expand your knowledge (of sth)
(2) knowledge 也可解釋為｢知道某事｣。
He denied all knowledge of the robbery.
I had no knowledge of this whatsoever until you told me.
be common/public knowledge
Their affair is public knowledge.
to (the best of) sb’s knowledge
To our knowledge, they're not going to the party.
"Is he coming to the party?" "Not to my knowledge. (= I don't think so)"
with/without sb’s knowledge
He was annoyed to find the contract had been signed without his knowledge.
She acted with the full knowledge of her boss.
lack of
Lack of money was the reason why the plan failed.
She suffered from lack of sleep.
Too many teachers are treated with a lack of respect.
She looked at him with a distinct/marked/conspicuous lack of enthusiasm.
marriage to
Her marriage to my brother went wrong because they married too young.
marriage between
When will we legalize marriage between gay couples.
Note. marriage 為可數或不可數名詞。
I think they’re too young for marriage.
She has three daughters from a previous marriage.
match for
You are no match for the champion.
That shirt’s a perfect match for your pants.
matter for
This is a matter for complaint.
a matter for negotiation
Note.
(1) 上面句子的 matter 等於 a subject or situation under consideration。
Let's get to the heart of the matter/subject.
(2) matters (複數型) 表示 the present state of affairs; a situation that you are in
How can we improve matters?
We can do nothing to change matters.
To complicate matters further / To make matters worse, the law on this issue has been changed.
His long absences didn’t help matters.
(3) matter 表示｢物質｣時，為不可數名詞。
particles of matter
matter of
It’s only/just a matter of time/opinion/principle.
It’s a matter of (personal) taste/choice/preference.
mercy on [U]
God have mercy on his soul.
Note.
(1) showed mercy to
He showed no mercy to his enemies.
(2) at the mercy of
After the boat’s motor failed, they were at the mercy of fate.
She was completely at his mercy.
(3) it’s a mercy (that)
It’s a mercy that the accident happened so near the hospital.
(4) leave sb to sb’s (tender) mercies
(5) Don't beg/cry/plead for mercy.
necessity/need for (｢必要｣、｢必需｣，為不可數名詞)
Our teacher emphasized the necessity for hard working.
Note. 表示｢必需品｣時，為可數。跟 luxury 反意。
She saw books as a necessity, not a luxury.
A car is an absolute necessity if you live in the country.
A lot of families cannot even afford to buy the bare/basic necessities of life.
There is no need for alarm.
objection to
He had moral objections to killing animals.
Note.
(1)
over the objections of sb (=in spite of sb's objections)
The bill was passed over the objections of many Democrats.
(2)
object 是動詞
If no one objects, he will be our leader.
object to (doing) sth
He strongly objected to the terms of the contract.
He strongly objected to accepting the terms of the contract.
object that
Some people object that the new road will create more traffic.
"He's not my boyfriend," the child objected.
obstruction of
You will be charged with obstruction of justice/a public footpath.
There is no obstruction of his airway.
He was found guilty of obstruction of justice.
Note. obstruction 可以是可數或不可數名詞。
They’re going to operate on an obstruction in her airway.
The doctors are doing/carrying out/performing an operation to remove an obstruction from her throat.
occasion for [S]
This is not an occasion for laughter.
= This is not an occasion to laugh.
That was the occasion for telling her the truth.
Note. phrases
(1) on occasion = sometimes
On occasion, prisoners were allowed visits from their families.
(2) on ... occasion(s)
I’ve seen him have fights on several occasions.
She had met him on two separate occasions.
offense against
He had admitted sex offences against children.
offense of
He had committed the offence of dangerous driving.
Note.
(1) offence 意思為 crime 時，可數。
(2) 因為 offend 某人而讓人感到 offence，此時 offence 不可數。
take offence (at sth)
Don't take offence at my words.
cause/give offence
The problem was how to say ‘no’ to her without causing offence.
meant no offence
I meant no offense.
(3) 讓人感到 offended 的東西，可以用 offence，此時可數。
offence to
a building that is an offence to good taste
(4) 意思為｢攻擊｣，不可數。
the weapons of offence used during the attack
order for
The government has placed an order for new weapons.
