苏国强
摘要:在英语学习中,“主谓一致”是重要的语法项目,也是学习的难点和高考的热点之一。因此,掌握好该语法点,对于面临高考的中学生来说是非常必要的。
关键词:高考英语;主谓一致;用法
中图分类号:G632.0 文献标识码:A 文章编号:1992-7711(2014)09-0147
在英语学习中,“主谓一致”是重要的语法项目,也是学习的难点和高考的热点之一。因此,掌握好该语法点,对于面临高考的中学生来说是非常必要的。
一、有生命意义的集体名词作主语时,谓语动词通常用复数形式
常用的名词有:police,cattle,folk/folks等。如:
There were over 100 police on duty at the demonstration.
注:1. 有些集体名词作主语时,如将其看作一个整体,谓语动词用单数;如将其作为个体成员看,谓语动词则用复数。常用的名词有:family,class,army,committee,team,等。如:
My family is a large one.
My family are watching TV now.
2. 表示“某国人”的名词(如Chinese,Japanese,English, British,French等)作主语时,谓语动词用复数形式。如:
The Chinese usually use chopsticks for meals,while the British use knives and forks.
但是,有些单复数同形的名词(如Chinese,Japanese等)作主语时,如果指具体的某个人,其谓语动词应用单数,如:
That Japanese is a singer.
3. 有些表示某类别的总称的集体名词(如machinery,clothing,luggage,furniture等)作主语时,谓语动词常用单数。如:
My luggage was sent by air.
二、以“-s”结尾的表示“学科”、“疾病名称”等名词作主语时,谓语动词常用单数
常用的名词有:politics,maths,physics,AIDS等。如:
Maths is my favourite subject.
三、表示某些由两部分组成的物体的名词作主语时,谓语动词常用复数形式
常用的名词有:trousers,chopsticks,scissors,glasses,gloves,shoes slippers等。如:
My trousers were bought in Shanghai.
但是,当这些名词前有pair时,谓语动词常与pair的数一致。
This pair of trousers was bought in Shanghai,but those two pairs of gloves were bought in Beijing.
四、国名、地名、组织机构名称、书刊和杂志名等名词作主语时,谓语动词常用单数
The United States is a developed country.
五、表示“时间、距离、钱额”等复数的名词作主语时,常被看作一个整体,谓语动词用单数
Ten years is a moment in history.
如果将以上复数名词作为个体看待时,谓语动词常用复数。
Ten years have passed since I came to work in this school.
六、由“名词+ and +名词”结构作主语,表示同一种事物或同一人时,谓语动词常用单数
七、由“every/each/no +单数名词+ and + every/each/no +单数名词”结构作主语时,谓语动词常用单数
Every hour and every minute is important.
八、“名词/代词+or+名词/代词”结构作主语时,谓语动词一般与or后面的名词/代词一致
He or I am going to attend the meeting.
九、“名词+介词短语”作主语时,谓语动词一般与名词的数一致
常用的介词和短语介词有:with,along with,like,besides,as well as,but,except,including等。
Nobody but Tom and Mary was in the classroom.
十、由“either...or...;neither...nor...;not only...but also...”连接的名词/代词作主语时,谓语动词常与最靠近的主语一致
Are either you or I wrong?
在英语口语中,甚至在正式英语中,“neither...nor... ;either...or...”连接的名词/代词作主语时,也可采取概念一致的原则,谓语动词用复数形式。如:
Neither the cats nor the dog have been fed.
十一、不定代词all, some,any作主语时,如果指代可数名词,谓语动词用复数;如果指代不可数名词,谓语动词用单数。none作主语时,如果指代不可数名词,谓语动词用单数;如果指代可数名词,谓语动词用单复数均可。either和neither作主语时,谓语动词常用单数,但在非正式语体中也可用复数
All have gone home after school except a naughty boy who remains in the classroom.
十二、“分数/百分数+of+名词”结构在句子中作主语时,谓语动词与名词的数一致
Three quarters of the surface of the earth is covered by water.
十三、“The +形容词”表示类人时,谓语动词常用复数形式
常用的形容词有:rich,poor,living,dead,young,old,aged,disabled等。如:
In the old society, the poor were forced to sell their children.
如果该形容词指抽象概念,谓语动词常用单数形式。如:
The new is always weak at first.
十四、动词不定式、动名词和从句做主语时,谓语动词常用单数形式
Swimming in rivers in summer is a splendid sport,but to swim in rivers in winter needs great willpower.
Who he is doesn't concern me.
但是,当what引导主语从句或由and连接两个动词不定式或动名词作主语时,谓语动词的数应根据意义一致的原则来决定。如:
What we need here is money.
What we need here are workers.
(作者单位:甘肃省靖远县第二中学 730600)