問：說「設施」，英文
facility一字什麼時候用單數形式，什麼時候用複數？有考試參考書說： When you talk
about a place, such as a building, laboratory or an object, such as a piece of
equipment, that facilitates an action or process, the word "facilities"
must always be in the plural form although you may have only one building。這條規則對不對？
答：那本參考書似乎不值得參考。單說那句英文，就寫得一塌糊塗，謹先改寫一下，以供比較： When you talk about a place, such as a
building or laboratory, or an object, such as a piece of equipment, that
facilitates an action or process, the word "facilities" must always
be in the plural form although there may be only one place or object（凡是便利某種行為或程序的地方或物件，例如建築物、實驗室、裝備等，以 facilities一字來說，都必須用複數形式，即使說的只是一個地方或一件物件）。這條規則改寫之後，應該清楚一點，只是所言卻不正確。
Facility一字常用複數形式，是因為假如只說一種設施，一般就會說該設施的名稱，不會用 facility一字，例如「學校有圖書館」英文是 The school has a library，不會說
The school has a facility。但「一個地方或一件物件」絕對可用單數形式的
facility來說，例如： A library is an essential facility for a
school（圖書館是學校必須有設施）。《牛津高階英漢雙解詞典》 facility條下的「 a new health care facility新保健中心」是另一例子。
