與意為“各種各樣的”,the variety of 意為“……的種類或多樣性”,兩者均可修飾可數(shù)或不可數(shù)名詞。如:The audience are dressed in a variety of ways. 觀眾有形形色色的穿著。The variety of his writing was astonishing. 他作品的多種多樣令人驚訝。The love of money produces an endless variety of misery. 貪財(cái)會(huì)引起無(wú)窮的不幸。注意:the variety of后接復(fù)數(shù)名詞作主語(yǔ)時(shí),謂語(yǔ)動(dòng)詞要用單數(shù);a variety of 后接復(fù)數(shù)名詞作主語(yǔ)時(shí),謂語(yǔ)動(dòng)詞原則上要用復(fù)數(shù),但有時(shí)也可用單數(shù)。如:The variety of goods in this shop is rich. 這家商店的貨物品種豐富。A variety of books have been published. 出版了各種各樣的書。A variety of reasons were [was] offered for the long delay. 為這次長(zhǎng)時(shí)間的耽擱提供了各種各樣的理由。