mankind前也不可加任何限定词,但可用形容词修饰。它是集合名词,可作单数或复数使用。作单数概念时,谓语要用单数,其相应的代词一般为it, its, itself(也有人用he ,him, his, himself);作复数概念时,谓语要用复数,其相应的代词是they, them, their, themselves。例如:Mankind is much cleverer than it was one thousand years ago. 人类比一千年前是聪明多了。All progressive mankind love peace. 所有进步人类都热爱和平。That is one small step for a man, but one giant leap for mankind. 对于个人来说那是小小的一步,但对于整个人类来说却是一次巨大的飞越。
请注意:human being也可表示“人类”,它是可数名词,有单复数之分。其意义比较具体,它一般用来区别人以外的事物,特别是动物或者是“神”,“鬼”之类。例如:Without its light and warmth there would be neither plants nor animals nor human beings. 没有光和热,就不可能有植物,动物,也不可能有人类。Although the Negroes were human beings just like the whites, they were not treated as humanbeing. 尽管黑人和白人一样都是属于人类,但是他们并没有被当作人对待
不可数名词,用单数。一个总体,单数对待
复数