陳傳光供稿
在英語中,句子中的謂語動詞在人稱和單、復(fù)數(shù)形式上必須和主語保持一致,這就是我們通常說的“主謂一致”。這一點看似簡單,但在實際運用中卻常常遇到麻煩。一般情況下,主謂之間的一致關(guān)系由以下三個原則來支配:語法一致原則、意義一致原則和就近原則。
語法一致的原則是指主語和謂語從語法形式上取得一致:主語是單數(shù)形式,謂語也采取單數(shù)形式;主語是復(fù)數(shù)形式,則謂語亦采取復(fù)數(shù)形式。例如:He often helps me learn English.(他經(jīng)常幫我學(xué)英語。)My friends often help me learn English.(我的朋友們經(jīng)常幫我學(xué)英語。)
但主語和謂語從語法形式上取得一致的問題遠(yuǎn)不止上述的那么簡單,有許多方面的情況需要去具體地對待:
1. 不定式、動名詞作主語時,謂語動詞一般用單數(shù)形式。例如:To teach is to learn.(教學(xué)相長。);Eating vegetables is good for you.(吃蔬菜對你好。)
2. 不定代詞either、neither、each one、the other、another、anybody、anyone、anything、someone、somebody、something、everyone、everybody、everything、nobody、no one、nothing等在句中作主語時,謂語動詞用單數(shù)。例如:Everyone is ready for the sports meeting.(大家都為運動會做好準(zhǔn)備了。);Neither of my sisters likes sports.(我的姐妹中沒有人喜歡運動。)
【例1】Each of the club members ________ ready to help those who were in trouble.
A. is B. are C. was D. were
【解析】“each of+名詞”作主語時,謂語動詞用單數(shù);由于后面句子“who were in trouble”中的謂語用一般過去時態(tài),因此前面空格上也要用一般過去時。故本題答案為C。
【例2】One of my friends ________ moved to America. I miss her so much.
A. has B. have C. is D. are
【解析】句意:我的一個朋友搬到美國了,我很想念她。后一句是前一句的影響和后果,因此前一句用現(xiàn)在完成時;主語是one,用單數(shù),所以本題答案為A。
3. 表示國家、機構(gòu)、事件、作品等名稱的專有名詞作主語時應(yīng)看作單數(shù),謂語動詞用單數(shù)。
例如:One Thousand and One Nights tells people lots of interesting stories.(《一千零一夜》給人們講了許多有趣的故事。)
4. a kind of、the number of等與名詞構(gòu)成名詞短語作主語時應(yīng)看作單數(shù),謂語動詞用單數(shù)。
例如:A kind of rose in the garden smells very pleasant.(這座花園里有一種玫瑰香氣怡人。);The number of workers in the factory is 400.(這個工廠里的工人數(shù)量是四百。)
5. 由some (of)、several、both、few、many、a number of等詞修飾的主語,或是由它們自身作主語時應(yīng)看作復(fù)數(shù),謂語動詞用復(fù)數(shù)。另外,由and連接兩個主語時,謂語一般用復(fù)數(shù)。
例如:On the seashore, some people are playing volleyball.(在海邊,有些人在打排球。);Both of us are fond of watching football games.(我們倆都喜歡看足球賽。);A number of willbe graduates are voluntarily going to work in the west of China.(許多即將畢業(yè)的學(xué)生打算自愿去中國西部工作。)
6. 有些表示數(shù)量的百分?jǐn)?shù)、分?jǐn)?shù)等后面加名詞或代詞作主語時,要根據(jù)這個名詞或代詞來決定其謂語動詞的單復(fù)數(shù)形式。如:a lot of、most of、any of、half of、three fifths of、eighty percent of、some of、none of、the rest of、all of等后接不可數(shù)名詞或是單數(shù)形式的名詞作主語時應(yīng)看作單數(shù),謂語動詞用單數(shù);但如果其后接可數(shù)名詞的復(fù)數(shù)形式作主語,則應(yīng)看作復(fù)數(shù),謂語動詞用復(fù)數(shù)。例如:A lot of money in the shop was stolen yesterday. (昨天那家商店丟失了許多錢。);A lot of students are from England in the school. (那個學(xué)校里很多學(xué)生來自英國。)
7. 由both…and…連接兩個單數(shù)名詞作主語時,謂語動詞用復(fù)數(shù)形式。例如:Both his father and his mother are teachers.(他的爸爸和媽媽都是老師。)
【例】—Both Li Lei and Han Meimei ________ fond of the TV program A Bite of China.
—I am also deeply moved by its stories!
A. is B. were C. was D. are
【解析】both Li Lei and Han Meimei作主語,因而謂語動詞使用復(fù)數(shù)形式,排除A、C;根據(jù)答句可知時態(tài)為一般現(xiàn)在時,故選D。
這一原則是指從意義著眼來解決主謂一致問題。有時主語形式上為單數(shù),但意義上卻是復(fù)數(shù),那么謂語依意義也用復(fù)數(shù)形式;而有時主語形式上為復(fù)數(shù),但意義上卻是單數(shù),那么謂語依意義也應(yīng)用單數(shù)形式。
1. 當(dāng)主語后面接由but、except、besides、as well as、as much as、including、more than、no less than、rather than、together with等引導(dǎo)的詞組時,其謂語動詞的單復(fù)數(shù)形式通常由前面的詞來決定。在這樣的句子里,這些詞所引導(dǎo)的詞組不影響主語自身的單、復(fù)數(shù)形式,它們在句子里其實是狀語。例如:The students, together with their teacher, are going to have a picnic this weekend.(學(xué)生們打算這個周末與他們的老師一起去野炊。)
我們完全可以將上面句子中together with引導(dǎo)的詞組搬到句首或是放到句末去,因為它們在句子里是狀語,即“The students are going to have a picnic this weekend together with their teacher.”
【例1】July with her brother ________ computer games when her mother came back.
A. were playing B. are playing C. was playing D. is playing
【解析】表示過去的某個時間段或時間點正在發(fā)生的動作,用過去進(jìn)行時,因而只能選A或C;另外,謂語動詞要與介詞with前的主語July保持一致,故選C。
【例2】A woman with two children ________ along the street at the moment.
A. is walking B. are walking C. walk D. walks【解析】句子的主語是a woman,謂語動詞用單數(shù),結(jié)合at the moment(此刻),句子應(yīng)用現(xiàn)在進(jìn)行時,故選A。
2. 表示時間、長度、價格、質(zhì)量等的短語作主語時,應(yīng)將它們作為一個整體看待,即使其中的名詞為復(fù)數(shù)形式,謂語動詞也應(yīng)用第三人稱單數(shù)形式。例如:Three years has already passed quickly.(三年的時間很快過去了。);Twenty years stands for a long period in one’s life.(二十年在人的一生里意味著一個很長的時期。)
【例1】Thanks to that organization, some money ________ given to the poor children.
A. was B. were C. are D. has
【解析】句子中some money作主語且為不可數(shù)名詞,謂語動詞要用單數(shù)形式;又根據(jù)句意:“多虧了那個組織,一些錢已送到貧困孩子那里?!币帽粍诱Z態(tài),故選A。
【例2】—How much is the pair of shoes?
—Twenty dollars ________ enough.
A. is B. are C. am D. be
【解析】根據(jù)文意,twenty dollars應(yīng)看成一個整體,表示單數(shù)概念,故選A。
3.“the + 形容詞”作主語若表示一類人,謂語動詞用復(fù)數(shù);若表示一種抽象概念或品質(zhì),謂語動詞用單數(shù)。例如:The sick here are very well cared for.(這里的病人都被照顧得很好。);The beautiful gives pleasure to all of us.(美帶給我們大家快樂。)
4. 由and 連接的兩個單數(shù)名詞作主語時,謂語動詞一般根據(jù)語法一致的原則用復(fù)數(shù)。但如果在意義上指同一個人、同一件事或同一個概念時,謂語動詞要用單數(shù)形式。例如:The writer and teacher is coming. 那位作家兼老師來了。(作家和老師指同一個人);The writer and the teacher are coming. 作家和老師來了。(作家和老師是兩個不同的人)
5. 主語為集體名詞,如family、team、crowd、company、class、group、government等,若表示整體概念,其謂語動詞須用單數(shù)形式;若表示集體中的成員,其謂語動詞須用復(fù)數(shù)形式。例如:My family is a small one with three people. (我家是一個只有三口人的小家庭。);My family all like music. (我們?nèi)叶枷矚g音樂。)
6. 還有一些形式為復(fù)數(shù),意思為單數(shù)的名詞,如trousers、pants、shorts、glasses等作主語時,謂語動詞用復(fù)數(shù)。例如:Her glasses are new. 她的眼鏡是新的。但當(dāng)這類名詞前有a pair of修飾時,謂語動詞應(yīng)用單數(shù)。例如:This pair of trousers is made in Hangzhou. (這條褲子產(chǎn)于杭州。)
有時謂語動詞的形式與主語并不一致,卻與鄰近它的名詞一致,這種原則叫就近原則,就近原則多用在不甚嚴(yán)肅的文體中。
1. 由either…or…、neither…nor…、not only…but (also)…、not…but…或or連接兩個并列主語時,其謂語動詞的單復(fù)數(shù)形式須與并列主語中較“鄰近”的那部分保持一致。例如:Either I or they are responsible for the result of the matter. (不是我就是他們要對那件事的結(jié)果負(fù)責(zé)。);Neither his family nor he knows anything about it. (他家人和他都不知道那件事。)
【例】—Do you like your new T-shirt?
—Yes. Not only I but also my mother ________ it.
A. likes B. like C. doesn’t like D. didn’t like
【解析】not only…but also…謂語動詞的確定屬就近原則。由于my mother是單數(shù)形式,故選A。
2. 以here或there開頭的句子,若主語在兩個或兩個以上,謂語動詞通常與鄰近的主語一致。
例如:There is a book and three pens on the desk. (桌子上有一本書和三支鋼筆。);Here are some books and paper for you. (這是給你的書和紙。)
【例】There ________ still some milk and eggs in the fridge. It’s not necessary to go to the store today.
A. am B. is C. are D. be
【解析】這是一個“there be”結(jié)構(gòu)的句子,離系動詞be最近的是不可數(shù)名詞milk,故根據(jù)就近原則,正確答案選B。