英語句子中,大部分主語都是名詞。名詞的單復數(shù)形式(或含義)直接影響著謂語動詞的形式,也就是說,謂語動詞的單復數(shù)形式要和主語保持一致。這種謂語在人稱和數(shù)方面與主語的一致就叫作主謂一致。主謂一致有三個原則:語法一致原則,意義一致原則及就近一些原則。
一、主謂一致的三個原則
(一)語法一致原則
語法一致原則是指謂語動詞要和它的主語在語法形式上取得一致,即單數(shù)主語用單數(shù)動詞,復數(shù)主語用復數(shù)動詞。如:
China is a big country with a long history.中國是一個歷史悠久的大國。
These books are all Wei Fang's. 這些書都是魏芳的。
[特別提醒]
謂語動詞的單復數(shù)不受主語修飾的影響。如:
The building among the trees is our public library.樹叢中的房子是我們的公共圖書館。(among the trees是介詞短語,修飾主語the building;盡管修飾語中有復數(shù)名詞trees,但其不影響謂語動詞的單數(shù)形式。)
The questions raised by Mr Wang are of great importance. 王先生提出的問題很重要.(raised by Mr Wang是過去分詞短語,修飾主語the questions;盡管修飾語中有單數(shù)名詞Mr Wang,但其不影響謂語動詞的復數(shù)形式。)
(二)意義一致原則
意義一致原則是說謂語動詞的單復數(shù)要取決于主語表達的意義,而不是形式。如:
The news is inspiring.這消息令人鼓舞。
People are talking about the news.人們在談論這條消息。
(三)就近一致原則
就近一致原則是指謂語動詞的數(shù)要與它最鄰近的名詞的數(shù)保持一致。如:
Either you or the headmaster is to hand out the prizes to these gifted students at the meeting.要么你,要么校長,將在大會上為這些有才華的學生頒獎。
--Are both Ann and I going to the party? 我和安都去參加聚會嗎?
--No, neither you nor Ann is going. 不,你們誰也不去。
Not only the teacher but also his students like playing football.不僅這位老師喜歡踢足球,而且他的學生們也都喜歡踢足球。
二、主謂一致的幾種情況
(一)復數(shù)形式主語用單數(shù)動詞的情況
[典型例題]
用所給詞的適當形式填空。
1.The Arabian Nights ____(be) an interesting story book.
2.Physics ____(be) a subject that every student should learn in middle school.
3.Thirty dollars ____(be) too expensive for this dictionary.
4.As you can see, the number of cars on our roads ____ rising these days.
A.was keeping B.keep C.keeps D.were keeping
5.With more forests being destroyed, huge quantities of good earth ____ each year.
A.is washing away B.is being washed away
C.are washing away D.are being washed away
[試題解析及語法歸納]
1.is。表示國家、城市、人名、書名、報紙、雜志及組織等專有名詞作主語時,通常作為整體看待,謂語動詞用單數(shù)。如:
The United States lies in North America.美國位于北美洲。
The New York Times is read all over the United States.《紐約時報》是流行于美國各地的報紙。
2.is。以-ics結(jié)尾表示學科名稱的名詞作主語時,謂語動詞用單數(shù),這類名詞有:physics, mathematics等;另外,以-s結(jié)尾的名詞:nwes, plastics等,也同屬此類。如:
Politics is now taught in all schools.現(xiàn)在各個學校都開設政治課。
Plastics is a kind of matter.塑料是一種物質(zhì)。
3.is。表示時間、距離、金錢、重量、度量、容量、溫度等復數(shù)名詞作主語時,通??醋饕粋€整體,謂語動詞用單數(shù)。如:
Twenty-five thousand dollars is the average income for a four-person family living in a mediumsized community in the United States.兩萬五千美元是一個居住在美國中等社區(qū)四口之家的平均收入。
Two hours is not long enough for this work.對做這項工作來說,兩個小時不算長。
[特別提醒]
如果說話人側(cè)重于一個個的個體時,謂語動詞可以用復數(shù)。如:
Thirty years have passed since he left home.自從他離開家以后,三十年已經(jīng)過去了。
4.C。車輛的數(shù)量在不斷地增長,這是事實,所以用一般現(xiàn)在時。“the number of+復數(shù)名詞或代詞”作主語時,表示“……的數(shù)量”,謂語動詞用單數(shù)。如:
The number of people who own cars is increasing every year.擁有汽車的人數(shù)每年在增加。
而“a number of+名詞復數(shù)”作主語時,表示“許多……”,謂語動詞用復數(shù)。如:
A number of people have cars now.現(xiàn)在許多人都擁有汽車。
5.D。本句主語是復數(shù)形式,故謂語應用復數(shù)形式。(large)quantities of修飾復數(shù)可數(shù)名詞以及不可數(shù)名詞作主語時,謂語動詞一般用復數(shù);a (large) quantity of修飾不可數(shù)名詞作主語時,謂語動詞一般用單數(shù);large amounts of修飾不可數(shù)名詞作主語時,謂語動詞一般用復數(shù);a large amount of修飾不可數(shù)名詞作主語時,謂語動詞一般用單數(shù)。如:
A large quantity of water is needed for cooling purposes.=Large quantities of water are needed for cooling purposes.冷卻需要大量的水。
[幫你歸納]
其他幾種復數(shù)形式主語用單數(shù)動詞的情況:
(1)引號中的詞若作為整體看待時,謂語動詞用單數(shù)。如:
“Bikes”is the plural of“bike”“Bikes”是“bike”的復數(shù)形式。
“They”is a pronoun.“They”是代詞。
(2)一些由兩個對應部分組成一體的復數(shù)名詞(如:trousers, glasses, shoes等)的前面若有“一條,一幅,一把”之類的量詞時,謂語動詞復數(shù)形式應與這些量詞的數(shù)保持一致。如:
This pair of trousers is his brother's.這條褲子是他哥哥的。
The two pairs of trousers are his brother's.這兩條褲子是他哥哥析。
(二)單數(shù)形式主語用復數(shù)動詞的情況
[典型例題]
用所給詞的適當形式填空。
1.The cattle ____(be) eating grass on the other side of the hill.
2.The Japanese ____(do) the same even now.
3.The wounded ____(be) sent to hospital at once.
[試題解析及語法歸納]
1.are。有些集合名詞(如:people, police, cattle等)雖然形式上是單數(shù),但意義上卻為復數(shù),謂語動詞需用復數(shù)形式。如:
The police are searching for a thief.警察正在搜捕一名小偷。
What are those people? 那些人是干什么的?
2.do。有些以-sh,-ese,-ch,-iss結(jié)尾的表示國家、民族的形容詞與定冠詞the連用時,指整個民族,表示復數(shù)含義,謂語動詞用復數(shù)。如:
The Chinese are kind and friendly.中國人親切、友好。
Chinese is difficult language.漢語是一種很難的語言。
3.were/was。某些形容詞加上定冠詞the(如:the old, the young, the dead, the rich, the sick等)時,用來表示一類人,其意義為復數(shù),謂語動詞用復數(shù)形式。如:
The old are taken good care of in our country.在我們國家老人受到很好的照顧。
The rich are for the plan, but the poor are againstit.富人贊成這個計劃,但窮人反對。
但是,如果這些詞表示抽象概括或指個人時,謂語動詞仍用單數(shù)。如:
The wounded was taken to a hospital.這個傷員被送到了醫(yī)院。
The beautiful is not always the same as the good.漂亮的不一定就是好的。
(三)同是單數(shù)形式主語,動詞形式不同的情況
[典型例題]
用所給詞的適當形式填空。
1.Class 6 ____(be) playing football on the playground.
2.The rest of the story ____(need) no telling.
3.Here ____(be) some books for you.
4.The company had about 20 notebook computers but only one-third ____ used regularly. Now we have 60 working all day long.
A.is B.are C.was D.were
[試題解析及語法歸納]
1.are。有些集合名詞(如:family, class, group, team, enemy, government, nation, couple, public等)若作為一個整體看待時,謂語動詞用單數(shù);如果就其中一個個成員考慮時,謂語動詞則用復數(shù)。如:
My family is a large one.我家是個大家庭。
My family are all workers.我的一家人都是工人。
The government has managed to control SARS and bird flu.政府已設法控制了非典和禽流感。
2.needs。“the rest of, a lot of, lots of, plenty of等+名詞”作主語時,謂語的數(shù)依據(jù)名詞的數(shù)而定。如:
A lot of students are waiting outside.許多學生在外面等候。
Lots of food is needed.需要許多食物。
3.are。在here和there的倒裝句中,如主語是復數(shù)名詞,謂語動詞用復數(shù);如主語是單數(shù)名詞,謂語動詞用單數(shù)。如:
There are hundreds of people in the hall.大廳里有幾百人。
Here is your key.這就是你那把鑰匙。
在這種結(jié)構中,如果是并列主語時,謂語動詞的數(shù)常與最近的平行主語相一致。如:
There is a table and some chairs in the room.房間里有一張桌子和一些椅子。
There are some chairs and a table in the room.房間里有一些椅子和一張桌子。
4.D。“分數(shù)/百分數(shù)+of+名詞”作主語時,謂語動詞和名詞的數(shù)保持一致。此句中的分數(shù)one-third后省略了of 20 notebook computers。
另外,“some, all, any, none, more, most等+of+名詞”作主語時,謂語動詞也應與名詞的數(shù)保持一致。如:
Most of his spare time was spent in reading.他的大部分業(yè)余時間都花在讀書上。
Most of his books were lost.他的大部分書都丟了。
More than 70 percent of the surface of our planet is covered by water.我們這顆行星70%多的表面被水覆蓋。
One-third of the students are girls in our group. 我們組三分之一的學生是女生。
(四)并列主語與謂語動詞的一致關系
[典型例題]
1.The father as well as his three children ____ skating on the frozen river every Sunday afternoon in winter.
A.is going B.go C.goes D.are going
2.The teacher, with 6 girls and 8 boys of her class, ____ visiting a museum when the earthquake struck.
A.was B.were C.had been D.would be
用所給詞的適當形式填空。
3.What he said and what he did ____(have) greatly encouraged the other students.
4.Neither his parents nor his wife ____(be) at home.
[試題解析及語法歸納]
1.C。as well as連接名詞或代詞作主語時,遵循就近原則;另外,句中時間為every Sunday afternoon in winter,故為一般現(xiàn)在時。
2.A。由with連接兩個主語時,謂語動詞應與with前的主語保持一致;另外,根據(jù)句意可知,要用過去進行時態(tài)。
由as well as, with, but, besides, except, like, including, along with, together with等連接兩個并列主語時,謂語動詞的數(shù)取決于前一個主語。如:
A library with twenty thousand books has been offered to the college as a gift.一個擁有兩萬藏書的圖書館被作為一個禮物捐給這所大學。
The teacher as well as the students likes the painting.老師和學生們都喜歡這幅畫。
3.have。由and或both…and連接的兩個單數(shù)主語,表示兩個不同的人或物,意義上為復數(shù),謂語動詞需用復數(shù)形式。如:
Both my father and my sister are teachers.我爸爸和姐姐都是老師。
Fire and water do not agree.水火不相容。
[特別提醒]
在下列情況,謂語動詞需用單數(shù)形式:
(1)由and連接的兩個單數(shù)主語,指同一人、同一物或同一概念時,謂語動詞用單數(shù)。如:
The teacher and writer has come to the meeting.那位老師兼作家來開會了。
(2)由and連接的兩個單數(shù)主語,如果其前面有every, each, no等詞修飾時,謂語動詞用單數(shù)。如:
Every boy and every girl has the right to be educated.每個男孩和女孩都有受教育的權利。
(3)有時用and連接兩個單數(shù)主語時,謂語動詞既可以是單數(shù),也可以是復數(shù)。如:
Five and four makes/make nine.五加四等于九。
4.is。由or, either…or, nor, neither…nor, not only…but also等連接兩個并列主語時,謂語動詞的數(shù)一般與后一個主語的數(shù)相一致。如:
Either you or I am to do the work.或者是你,或者是我做這個工作。
(五)幾種特殊結(jié)構的主謂一致
[典型例題]
1.He is the only one of the students who ____ a winner of scholarship for three years.
A.is B.are C.have been D.has been
用所給詞的適當形式填空。
2.A day or two ____(have) passed.
3.More than one soldier ____(be)killed in the battle.
4.Many a ship ____(have) been damaged in the storm.
5.One and a half hours ____(have) passed, but he hasn't come here.
6.Each of us ____(have) a dictionary.
7.I, not you, ____(be) the right person to do the work.
8.Walking on the moon ____(be) very difficult.
9.In front of the house ____(be) some flowers.
[試題解析及語法歸納]
1.D。the only one of the students中的先行詞是one,故定語從句中的謂語動詞要用單數(shù);又因for three years是完成時的標志,所以答案為D。
在“one of+復數(shù)名詞+定語從句”結(jié)構中,定語從句一般被看作是修飾復數(shù)名詞,因此該從句中的謂語動詞要用復數(shù);但是在“the only one of+復數(shù)名詞+定語從句”結(jié)構中,先行詞是one而不是靠近它的復數(shù)名詞,因此該從句的謂語動詞應該是單數(shù)形式。如:
This is one of the best movies that have been on this year.這是今年上映的最佳影片之一。
She was the only one of the girls who was late for the meeting.她是這些女孩中開會唯一遲到的一個。
2.has。“a+單數(shù)名詞+or two”作主語時,謂語動詞用單數(shù);但是當“one or two+復數(shù)名詞”作主語時,謂語動詞用復數(shù)。如:
One or two days have passed.一兩天已經(jīng)過去了。
3.was。“more than one+單數(shù)名詞”結(jié)構雖有復數(shù)意義,但謂語動詞習慣上用單數(shù)形式。如:
More than one student has read Rowling's Harry Porter.許多學生都看過羅琳的《哈利·波特》。
4.has。“many a+單數(shù)名詞”作主語時,盡管意義上是復數(shù),但謂語動詞常用單數(shù)形式。如:
Many a student has seen the film Titanic twice.許多學生都看過兩次電影《泰坦尼克號》。
5.has。“one and a half+復數(shù)名詞”作主語時,謂語動詞用單數(shù)。如:
One and a half apples is left on the table.一個半蘋果剩在桌子上。
6.has。由each或each修飾名詞作主語時,謂語動詞用單數(shù);但是,如果each位于復數(shù)主語后或在句末作主語的同位語時,不影響謂語動詞的數(shù),謂語動詞仍用復數(shù)形式。如:
Each student has made a mistabke.每個學生都犯過錯誤。
The students each have a new book.學生們?nèi)耸忠粌孕聲?/p>
7.am。當兩個主語中一個為肯定,另一個否定時,謂語動詞的數(shù)與肯定主語相一致。如:
She, not you is geing to the shop.她,不是你去商店。
8.is。動詞-ing形式、不定式或從句作主語時,謂語動詞用單數(shù)。如:
To talk with him is a great pleasure.和他談話是一件愉快的事。
What he said is right.他說的是對的。
[特別提醒]
如兩個或兩個以上的動名詞、不定式或從句作主語時,謂語動詞用復數(shù)。如:
What to do and how to do heven't been decided.做什么,怎樣做還沒有決定。
9.are。在倒裝結(jié)構中,謂語的數(shù)應與其后主語的數(shù)相一致。如:
At the foot of the mountain stands a tall building.山腳下有一幢高樓。