【问】 An earthquake sometimes causes great damages.据说这个句子有错误，请给予解释。

【答】 damage作“损失”、“损坏”解时，是不可数名词，不能用作复数。例如：

1. The accident didn't do much damage to either of the motocars.

那两辆汽车在交通事故中都未受严重损坏。

2. Serious damage was caused by the fire.

这次火灾造成严重损失。

因此，在下列两道试题中均应当选C：

1. Although the town had been attacked by the storm several times，______ was done.A. a few damages B. few damages

C. little damage D. a little damage(TOEFL，79. 5—8)

2. The to_____the house caused by the storm took several days to repair.

A. ruin B. destruction

C. damage D. harm(攻读硕士学位研究生入学考试英语试题，85B)

damages可以说是与damage完全不同的一个词，LDCE把damage和damages编排成两

个不同的词条。damages的意思是“赔偿金”。

1. They sued for damages.

他们起诉要求赔偿金。

2. The court ordered him to pay ￡1500 damages to the person he had hurt. (LDCE)

法院判他向被他伤害的人支付1500英镑赔偿金。

3. The man who was injured by the car asked for $ 50，000 in damages.

这位被汽车撞伤者要求5万美元赔偿金。