【问】 Though the crew were at first under the impression that the lost ship had been found，the
 contents of the sea-chest proved them wrong. (New Concept English，Book 3，L. 32)
 据我所知，content为不可数名词，这里为什么用其复数形式呢?
 【答】 当content指与“形式”相对而言的“内容”时，它常常用作不可数名词：
 1. I like the style of the book but I don’t like the content. (LDCE)
 我喜欢这本书的风格，但是不喜欢它的内容。
 2. Do you agree with the content of the speech?(Thorndike)
 你同意这个演说的内容吗?
 当content指书、信、报告、电报所包含的内容时，则常常用作复数。例如：
 1. I wondered whether he already knew the contents of my telegram.(Greene)
 我想了解他是否已知道我的电报内容。
 2. He told me that he did not know the contents of the will. (Yeats)
 他告诉我他不知道遗嘱的内容。
 3. The contents of the letter were quite unexpected.
 信的内容是很出人预料之外的。
 4. He know by heart the contents of the note. (EED)
 他背下了便条的内容。
 当content指“内含物”、“……里面装的东西”以及书籍的目录时，就必须用复数形式contents. 例如：
 1. Show me the contents of your suitcase. (DEU)
 把你皮箱里的东西给我看看。
 2. He drank the contents of his glass in one gulp. (EED)
 他一口喝光了杯中的酒。
 3. ...pouring out the contents of the bag...(EED)
 把袋内的东西倒出来……
 4. Then he showed me the contents of the parcel. (NCE 2，L.51)
 后来他给我看了包里的东西。