皖西中学 方昌冬
主谓一致是指谓语动词在人称和数上上和主语一致,一般遵循三个原则。即语法一致原则、意义一致原则和就近一致原则:
(1)就近原则
由either…or, neither…nor,not…but, not only…but also, or等)连接的并列主语,谓语动词与最近的主语在数上保持一致。如:Either you or one of your students is to attend the meeting tomorrow.要么是你要么是你其中的一个学生要出席明天的会议。
在倒装句和there be句型中be动词的单复数取决于其后的主语。如果其后是由and连接的两个主语,则应与靠近的那个主语保持一致,即就近一致。如:There is a book and some pens on the desk.桌子上有一本书和几支钢笔。
在定语从句中,关系代词that,who,which等作主语时,其谓语动词的数应与句中它所指代的先行词保持一致。如He is one of my friends who are working hard.他是我正在努力工作的朋友之一。
在强调句中,连接代词又在句中作主语,这时它应与被强调的主语保持一致。It is I who am going to the cinema tonight.
(2)语法一致原则
①当主语与谓语动词之间插入with,along with,with,as well as,together with, no less than,besides,except, but, including等短语时,谓语和主语保持一致。
Mr Smith, together with his wife and daughters, is going to visit Beijing this summer.史密斯先生和他的妻子、女儿今年夏天将要一起参观北京。
②英语中有一类单、复数同型的词(people,means,sheep,deer,fish police等),其单、复数取决于它在句中的含义。如
All of the people in the country have been prepared for the great reformation.这个国家的人都已经为大变革作好了准备。
③多数情况下,由“what”引导的名词性从句作主语时,其后的谓语动词通常用单数形式。What I want to say is just “Take care!”我只想说:“多保重!”
④由”a lot of\lots of\plenty of\the rest of+名词构成的短语“以及由“分数或百分数+名词构成的短语”作主语时,其谓语动词的数要根据短语中后面名词的数而定。如 Most of the water here is clean.大部分的水是干净的。
80% cotton has been sent to America.80%的棉花已经被送往美国。
Half of the apples are red.有一半儿的苹果是红的。
⑤词组“a number of, a great/good many, a group of+可数名词复数”的结构作主语时,谓语动词应用复数;如果冠词a变为the,则谓语动词用单数。
A number of ancient buildings are destroyed in the war.
许多的古代建筑在战争中被毁。
The number of the visitors has decreased this year.
游客的数量今年减少了。
⑥从句、不定式、动名词等作主语时谓语动词一律视作一个整体,谓语动词用单数。
When to leave has not been decided.
什么时候离开还没有定下来。
Go shopping on Sunday is one of his habits.
周日购物是他的一个习惯。
注:如果主语是两个(或两个以上)的名词性从句,谓语动词常用复数。
What he said and what he did were always different.
他所说的和他所做的总是不一样。
(3)意义一致原则
①and连接的两个或多个主语前如果有each,every,no等修饰语时(后面的一个有时也可省略),后面的谓语动词用单数形式。
Every man and every woman is busy at working.每个人都在忙着工作。
②如果两个以上的名词组成一个整体概念作主语时,谓语动词须用单数。
The novelist and poet is going to Europe next year.
这位小说家兼诗人打算明年去欧洲。
The novelist and the poet are going to Europe next year.
小说家和诗人都打算明年去欧洲。
分析:(a)句中小说家和诗人the novelist and poet为同一个人,故谓语动词用单数;而(b)句中有两个人,一个是小说家the novelist,另一个是诗人the poet
③表示时间、距离、金额、度量等词语作主语时,通常被视作整体,谓语动词用单数。
Ten minutes is enough.十分钟足够了。
④加减乘除等数学运算谓语动词通常用单数。
Two times three makes six.二乘三等于六。
⑤英语句中的each, either, neither等词,既可作代词充当主语,又可作形容词修饰主语,这时的谓语动词一律用单数。
Neither of us has been abroad.我们谁都没出过国。
⑥由some,any every,no构成的复合词(somebody,nobody,everything,anything等)作主语时,谓语动词用单数。
Somebody is waiting for you at the school gate.有人在学校门口等你。
⑦many a/more than one+单数名词,一般接单数谓语动词。
Many a man does not understand Einstein's relativity.
许多人不明白爱因斯坦的相对论。
⑧“one and a half+复数名词”作主语,谓语动词一般用单数。
One and a half hours has passed.一个半小时过去了。
⑨成双成对出现的复数名词(glasses, scissors, shoes, trousers,pants,gloves,stockings等)作主语时,通常谓语动词用复数,但如果前面有a/the pair of;a/the suit of等词语时,则谓语动词要用单数。
A pair of scissors is useful tool for a dressmaker.剪刀是裁缝的重要工具。
⑩以“-s”结尾的“复数”名词(如:一些学科名词mathematics, physics, politics等),或以“-s”结尾的地点名词、人名等词后面的谓语动词通常用单数。
Mathematics is my favorite subject.数学是我最喜欢的科目。
【经典品味】
The basketball coach, as well as his team,______ interviewed shortly after the match for their outstanding performance. (2012陕西)
A. were B. was C. is D. are
解析:B 考察主谓一致和时态。句意:那位篮球教练以及他的球队在比赛后不久就因为他们杰出的表现而受到采访。as well as 连接两个名词或代词作主语时,谓语动词的数由第一个名次或代词决定。
