区别辨析entire、whole、complete、full、total、gross与all

entire、whole、complete、full、total、gross与all这些形容词都表示“完整的、全部的、整个的”之意。

entire : 除了有whole的意思外,还强调既不能加一个也不减少一个的含义。

  • Between them they ate an entire cake.
    他们两个吃了整整一个蛋糕。
  • They got an entire set of silver cutlery as a wedding present.
    他们收到了一件结婚礼物,是一整套银质餐具。

whole比entire更普通,强调每个组成部分都包括在内,无一漏掉或舍去。

  • I spent the whole day cleaning.
    我花了一整天打扫卫生。
  • There's still a whole month till my birthday.
    离我的生日还有整整1个月时间。
  • After my exercise class, my whole body ached.
    体育课之后,我浑身都疼。

complete : 强调事物在内容、程度、或数量方面已完整,已达标准。

  • the complete works of Oscar Wilde
    奥斯卡‧王尔德全集
  • Sun, sand, and romance - her holiday was complete.
    阳光、沙滩加上浪漫的爱情——她的假期完美无缺。

full : 侧重指内容,含有能包括所有的充足内容的意味。

  • Please give your full name and address.
    请提供你的全名和地址。
  • We do not yet have full details of the story.
    我们并没有掌握该事件的全部细节。

total与complete用法相近,但强调总量。

  • the total cost
    全部费用
  • Total losses were $800.
    总损失为800美元。

gross : 侧重指未打折扣,未除去成本或皮重等与净重、净数相对。

  • A person's gross income is the money they earn before tax is deducted from it.
    个人总收入是指税前的收入总和。
  • Once wrapped, the gross weight of the package is 2.1 kg.
    包装后,这个包裹的毛重是2.1公斤。

all有时可与whole, entire和total换用。

  • All animals have to eat in order to live.
    所有动物都必须吃东西才能生存。
  • She has four children, all under the age of five.
    她有4个孩子,都不到5岁。