-
主谓一致详解
【基础知识】
主谓一致指
“
人称
”
和
“
数
”
方面的一致关系。对
大多数人来说,往往会在掌握主语和随后
的谓语动词之间的一致问题上遇到困难。
一般情况下,
主谓之间的一致关系由以下三个原则
支配:
语法一致原则
(grammatical concord)
意义一致原则
(notional
concord)
就近原则
(principle of proximity)
(一)语法一致原则
用作主语的名词词组中心词和谓语动词在单、复数形式上的一致,就是语法一致。也
< br>就是说,如果名词中心词是单数,动词用单数形式;如果名词中心词是复数,动词用复数形
式。例如:
This
table is a genuine antique.
Both parties have their own advantages.
Her job has something to do
with computers.
She wants
to go home.
They are
divorcing each other.
Mary
was watching herself in the mirror.
The bird built a nest.
Susan comes home every week-end.
(二)意义一致原则
有时,主语和谓语动词的一致关系取决于主语的单、复数意义
,而不是语法上的单、
复数形式,这样的一致关系就是意义一致。例如:
Democratic government
gradually take the place of an all-powerful
monarchy.
A barracks was
attacked by the guerilla.
Mumps is a kind of infectious disease.
The United States is a
developed country.
It is
the remains of a ruined palace.
The archives was lost.
This pair of trousers costs fifty
dollars.
(三)就近原则
有时,谓语动词的单、复数形式决定于最靠近它的词语。
例如:
Either my grandsons or their father is
coming.
No one except his
daughters agree with him.
Mary and her sisters are baking a cake.
Neither Richard nor I am
going.
二、以集合名词做主语的主谓一致问题
有些集合名词,
ommittee,
council,crew,crowd,family,gang,government,group,mo
b,staff,team, union
等,在意义
上是复数
,但在语法形式上是单数,这类名词作主语的主谓一致问题往往遵循
“
< br>语法一致
”
或
“
意义一致
”
原则。例如:
The committee has/have
decided to dismiss him.
A
council of elders governs the tribe.
The present government is trying to
control inflation.
The
school staff are expected to supervise school
meals.
(一)通常作复数的集体名词
包括
police,people, cattle,
militia,
vermin
等,这些集体名词通常用作复数。
例如:
The British police have only very
limited powers.
The militia
were called out to guard the borderland.
It seems the cattle on the
sides of the dikes were the only living creatures
in these desolate
surroundings.
(二)通常作不可数名词的集体名词
通常作不可数名词的集体名词,包括
poultry,foliage
,
machinery,
equipment,furniture,
mercha
ndise
等
,
这类名词后的动词用单
数形式。
例如:
Poultry is expensive at this time of
year.
That green foliage
was restful.
The
merchandise has arrived undamaged.
All the machinery in the factory is
made in China.
The suite of
furniture he bought was of contemporary style.
The equipment of the
photographic studio was expensive.
(三)可作单数也可作复数的集体名词
可作单数也可作复数的集体名词
,<
/p>
包括
audience, committee, crew,
family,
government,jury
等。
例如:
The audience was/were enthusiastic on
the opening night of the play.
The committee has/have decided to
dismiss him.
The jury
is/are about to announce the winners.
The government has/have discussed the
matter for a long time.
三、
a committee, etc of
+
复数名词的主谓一致问题
如果主语是由
a committee of /a
panel of /a (the) board of +
复数名词构成,随后的动
词
通常用单数。
例如:
A
committee of twelve men is to discuss the matter.
A panel of experts has
considered the situation.
The board of managers is responsible
for the firm.
四、以
-s
结尾的名词作主语的主谓一致问题
英语可数名词的规则复数形式是在词尾加
-s
或
-es
,但是有一些以
p>
-s
结尾的名词并不是
可数名词。
它们用法多样,
造成了实际使用上的困难,
以下
详述了以
-s
结尾的名词作主语的
主谓
一致问题。
(一)以
-s
结尾的疾病名称作主语的主谓一致问题
(二)以
-s
结尾的游戏名称作主语的主谓一致问题
< br>(三)以
-s
结尾的地理名称作主语的主谓一致问题
p>
(四)以
-i
cs
结尾的学科名称作主语的主谓一致问题
(五)其它以
-s
< br>结尾的名词的主谓一致问题
(一)以
-s
结尾的疾病名称作主语的主谓一致问题
以
-s
结尾的疾病名称作主语的主谓一致问题
,
如:
arthritis,bronchitis,diabetes,mumps,phlebi
tis,rickets,
这类以
-s
结尾的疾病名称作主语时,谓语
动词通常用作单数。
例如:
Arthritis causes great pain in the
joints of the patient.
The
diabetes is a kind of chronic disease.
Measles usually occurs in children.
Phlebitis is a swollen
condition of the blood vessels.
(二)以
-s
结尾的游戏名称作主语的主谓一致问题
以
-s<
/p>
结尾的游戏名称作主语时,谓语动词通常用作单数。
例如:
Darts is basically a easy game.
Marbles is not confined to
children.
Skittles is not
fashionable nowadays.
Draughts is not very difficult to
learn.
但当
Darts
p>
,
Marbles
等的意义为游戏器具而非
游戏名称时,谓语动词通常用作复数。
例如:
Three darts are thrown at each turn.
All nine skittles were
brought down by the good throw.
(三)以
-s
结尾的地理名称作主语的主谓一致问题
某些以
-
s
结尾的地理名称,如果是国名,如
the United
States
,
the Netherlands
等,因
其是单一政治实体,所以谓语动词用作单数。
例如:
The United States was hit by the Great
Depression in 1930s'.
In
early January 1996 the Netherlands was hit by its
worst storm since 1976.
但如果
是群岛、山脉、海峡、瀑布等地理名称作主语,谓语动词用作复数。
例如:
The West Indies are commonly divided
into two parts.
The
Himalayas have a magnificent variety of plant.
The Straits of Gibraltar
have not lost their strategic importance.
The Niagara Falls are
perhaps the most splendid waterfall in the world.
(四)以
-ics
< br>结尾的学科名称作主语的主谓一致问题
某些以
-ics
结尾的学科名称作主语时,如
physics,mathematics,mechanics, optics,
acoustics, politics statistics,
economics, linguistics,
athletics
等
,
谓语动词通常用作单数。
例如:
Physics is a fundamental subject in
science.
The third world
economics is promising.
Acoustics studies the science of sound.
Mathematics is an
interesting subject.
Athletics is a required course for
students of all grades.
但如果这类名词表示学科以外的其它含义,可作复数用。
例如:
Athletics have been greatly encouraged
at this college.
The
acoustics of the new concert hall are perfect.
The economics of the
project are still at issue.
(五)其它以
-s
结尾的名词的主谓一致问题
A.
以
< br>-s
结尾的由两部分组成的物体名称作主语
英语中有一些通常以
-s
结尾的由两部分组成的物体名词,如
glasses,
pincers,pliers,scissors, shorts,suspend
ers,trousers
等,这类名词做主语,如果不带
“<
/p>
一把
”
、
“
p>
一
副
”
等单位词,
谓语动词通常用复数。
例如:
Mary's glasses are new.