Trouble 放在片語裡,成為慣用的既定用法,表達其語意「概念」,就不必強調「個體性」,像是 have trouble、in trouble 或是 get into trouble 等。然而,如果要明確指出一項個別的「煩惱」,也就是強調其「個體性」的用法,就需要有單複數的標記:
(1) 片語用法,不強調個體性:
Don’t get yourself into trouble.
Every time he is with his older brother, he always gets into trouble.
She has trouble focusing on her work when she drinks too much coffee.
= She has difficulty focusing on her work. → 片語用法,不強調個體化
(2) 個體化的用法,強調個別的問題:
Please do not take the trouble to travel to Kaohsiung.
The most comforting thing about having close friends is being able to talk about our troubles.
→ 指各人的種種煩惱,強調個體化的 troubles