【问】 quantities of water的说法是否有误?water为不可数名词，表示其数量的名词怎么能用复数呢?

【答】 quantities of water(meat，sugar，blood，milk，information)的用法是符合英语惯用法的。因为名词quantity除了作“与质量相对而言的数量”解，用作不可数名词之外，还可以表示事物的量，用作可数名词。例如：

1. He lost a great quantity of blood. (Palmer)

他流了大量的血。

2. A thirsty man will drink great quantities of water. (JED)

口渴的人会喝大量的水。

3. We’ve had quantities of rain this summer. (ALD)

今年夏天降雨量很大。

4. Modern industry needs considerable quantities of this metal…(STE)

现代工业需要大量的这种金属……

5. “What does Canada export?”“Large quantities of wheat _____sent abroad. ”

A. is B. are

C. have D. is being(Michigan)

6. The actual quantity of folic acid is required in the daily diet is not known. (TOEFL，84—85) (应将is required改为that is required或required)

(参见amount/amounts)