IELTS Writing Task 1 一大半考生會寫 The data shows... vs The data show...——到底哪個對？還有 news、criteria、phenomena——每個都是考官盯得很緊的陷阱。

為什麼是 Taiwanese 特有錯誤

中文「資料、新聞、標準」沒有單複數，學生憑「看起來像複數」猜——結果 news 被當複數、criteria 被再加 s、data 亂接。

關鍵字單複數一覽

| 字 | 單 / 複 | 動詞 | 範例 | |----|---------|------|------| | news | 不可數（形式像複數但接單數） | is / was | The news is bad. | | data | 可單可複（學術：plural；日常：mass noun） | is 或 are 都可 | The data are conclusive.（正式）The data is clear.（日常） | | criteria | 複數；單數是 criterion | are | The criteria are strict. | | phenomena | 複數；單數是 phenomenon | are | These phenomena are rare. | | media | 複數；單數是 medium | are（正式） | The media are biased. | | analysis / analyses | 可數 | 依數 | Two analyses were done. |

❌ Wrong vs ✅ Correct

| ❌ Wrong | ✅ Correct | |----------|-----------| | The news are shocking. | The news is shocking. | | Criterias for selection are strict. | The criteria for selection are strict. | | This phenomenas is common. | This phenomenon is common. | | The data shows many datas. | The data show many data points. | | One of the criterion is fluency. | One of the criteria is fluency. | | Medias is powerful. | The media are powerful. |

IELTS Writing Task 1 專屬提醒

Academic Task 1 描述圖表時，考試官方接受以下兩種寫法：

  • The data shows a clear trend.（把 data 當集合 mass noun）
  • The data show a clear trend.（把 data 當拉丁複數）

**但千萬不要寫 *datas***——那是 100% 錯。

Quick Drill — 10 句判斷對錯

  1. The news about the economy are worrying.
  2. Each criterion has its own weighting.
  3. These phenomena is difficult to explain.
  4. The data suggests a strong correlation.
  5. Social medias is everywhere now.
  6. One of the criteria are grammar accuracy.
  7. Good news travels fast.
  8. The analyses show consistent results.
  9. This criterias are clear.
  10. An interesting phenomenon was observed.

Answer Key

| # | 對錯 | 解釋 | |---|------|------| | 1 | ❌ | news 不可數接單數：is worrying | | 2 | ✅ | criterion 是單數形，正確 | | 3 | ❌ | phenomena 複數，要接 are difficult | | 4 | ✅ | 日常 / 集合用法，接單數合法 | | 5 | ❌ | media 是複數；而且 social media 常被當 mass noun 接單數，但 medias 永遠錯。改 Social media is | | 6 | ❌ | One of the criteria 主詞是 one → is grammar accuracy | | 7 | ✅ | news 接單數動詞 travels | | 8 | ✅ | analyses 複數 → show | | 9 | ❌ | criterias 不存在；this 也錯。改 These criteria are clear | | 10 | ✅ | phenomenon 單數形，正確 |

記住這一條

考前寫下 "news is / data show / criteria are / phenomena are / media are"——考場五秒鐘掃一眼，直接避開 95% 的錯誤。

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