Subjectverb Concord[精彩]

1、wlecture two generally speaking, the grammatical principle applies to formal english; on the other hand, the notional principle and the principle of proximity, play an auxiliary role in supporting the grammatical principle in informal english. 2.1 guiding principles w the subject-verb concord refers

2、 to the agreement between subject and predicate verb in number (the number concord between subject and verb). there are three principles guiding subject-verb concord: grammatical concord, notional concord and proximity. 1) grammatical concord the principle of grammatical concord refers to the rule t

3、hat the verb must match its subject in number. if the subject is plural, the verb should take the plural form; if, on the other hand, the subject is singular or is an uncountable noun, the verb should take the singular form. e.g.: every man has his faults. a friend in need is a friend indeed. faults

4、 are thick where love is thin. tall trees catch much wind. time flies. bad news has wings. 一朝情意淡，样样不顺眼。 2) notional concord the principle of notional concord refers to the rule that the verb can sometimes agree with the subject according to the notion of number. we.g.: five minutes is left. w two mi

5、les seems like a long way to me. w a million pounds was spent on this project. w it was too late, but the audience was increasing. w the audience were all moved to tears. w his family is a great one. w his family are fat and short. w 类似用法的名词: class, team, government, committee, wcrowd, crew, army, c

6、lub, party, public, group, band, jury, worchestra, council, 等。 3) proximity it denotes agreement of the verb with a closely preced- ing np in preference to agreement with the head of the np that functions as subject. e.g.: either you or i am mad. not only his children but he himself is hoping to be

7、there. not you but your father is to blame. (类似的其它连接词类似的其它连接词: neithernor, whetheror, or, 等等。) there is an eraser, a pair of compasses, and one ruler on the desk. here is a pen, a few envelops and some paper for you. on the left of each person is a fork, a plate and a table-napkin. (在倒装句中在倒装句中, 谓语与后

8、面第一个主语保持一致谓语与后面第一个主语保持一致) 这种受临近词影响的情况在现代英语中越来越多这种受临近词影响的情况在现代英语中越来越多: (1) is your sister and her husband coming to join us? (2) where is your wife and children to stay while you are away? (3) one in ten are expected to take part in the contest. (4) no one except his own supporters agree with him. (5

9、) dr. black together with his crew are going to stay in the observation station for a whole winter. 正式文体中还是应该使用语法一致原则！正式文体中还是应该使用语法一致原则！ 2.2 problems of concord with nouns ending in -s they are generally treated as singular. 1) disease and game names ending in -s there are quite a few nouns that end

10、 in -s but which are not countable. some of these nouns are treated as singular, some as plural, and some either as singular or as plural. w nouns in -s denoting diseases: appendicitis(阑尾炎), hepatitis(肝炎), shingles(带状疱疹), phlebitis(静脉炎), rabies(狂犬病), etc. (measles/rickets: singular/ plural) w nouns

11、in -s denoting games: billiards(台球), bowls (保龄球), draughts(国际跳棋), skittles(撞柱戏), 等等, 作 为一种游戏解时是单数, 而作为个体的数量则可用作复数。 (cards: plural) 2) subject names ending in -s they are generally treated as singular nouns: ethics, electronics, phonetics, semantics, classics (古典文学), genetics (遗传学), astronautics (宇航学

12、), logistics (后勤 学), aerodynamics (空气动力学), obstetrics (产科学), thermodynamics (热力学), etc. but some such nouns are treated as plural when used in other senses than subject names: politics (政治 观点), mathematics (运算能力), statistics (统计资料, 统 计数字), economics (经济效益), etc. e.g.: statistics is taught in many co

13、lleges. statistics show that 65% of the new businesses have made profits this year. 3) geographical names ending in -s mountain ranges, straits, water falls such as the alps, the rockies, the highlands (高地,高原; 特指苏格兰高地), the maldives (马尔代夫岛国), the balkans (巴尔干半岛各 国), the bermudas (百慕大三角洲), victoria f

14、alls, are generally used as plural. e.g.: the alps rise over four countries. the rockies have a magnificent variety of plant and animal life. but a few are treated as singular when used as country names. e.g.: the united states, the netherlands, the philippines, the united nations there are some nou

15、ns ending in -s always treated as plurals, such as: congratulations(祝贺词), customs(海关), commons(平民), dregs(残渣, 渣滓), particulars(详细情节), fireworks(烟花), funds(资金, 基金), amends(赔罪, 赔偿), annals(编年史), bowels(肠), ashes(灰烬), guts(胆量), curtains(幕布), refreshments(提神的点心), brains(头脑), greens(绿叶蔬菜), outskirts(郊区,

16、郊外), pains(费心, 辛 苦), tropics(热带地区), wares(货物, 商品), premises(房屋 建筑及附属场地), proceeds(收益, 所得), spirits(情绪, 心 情), livingquarters(住宅区), valuables(贵重物品), terms (条件), damages(损害赔偿金), likes(喜好), riches(财富), suds(肥皂泡沫), clothes, goods, etc. 这类名词用于某些特殊意义时这类名词用于某些特殊意义时, 只有复数形式只有复数形式, 作主语作主语 时时, 动词用复数形式。动词用复数形式。

17、 4) other nouns ending in -s there are also nouns such as barracks and head-quarters whose singular and plural number share the same form. these nouns are treated as plural when used in the plural sense, or vice versa. e.g.: a barracks, two barracks; a cement works, public works (公共建设工程) names for t

18、hings made of two parts are usu. used as plural. w names of tools and articles of dress consisting wof two equal parts: binoculars(双筒望远镜), compasses w(圆规), scales(天平), calipers(测径器,双脚规), clippers(指 w甲刀), earphones(耳机), flares(喇叭裤), spectacles(眼镜), wshades(太阳眼镜, 墨镜), forceps(手术钳), shears(大剪刀), wtongs

19、(夹钳, 火钳), pliers(钳子, 老虎钳), tweezers(镊子), wbraces(裤子背带), slippers(拖鞋), socks(袜子), pants(裤 子, w内裤), jeans(牛仔裤), tights(紧身裤), knickers(短裤, 衬 裤), wunderpants(内裤, 衬裤), slacks(宽松的长裤, 便裤), trunks w(游泳裤), leggings(护腿), breeches(马裤), etc. (note that when these nouns are adjectivalized, they drop their -s end

20、ing: a trouser leg, a spectacle case.) w but when they are preceded by such unit nouns as a/ wone / the / this / that pair of, the number form of the wfollowing verb is singular; (two pairs of: plural) w the pair of pants/knickers costs 10 yuan. w one/a pair of scissors is w two pairs of scissors ar

21、e w my sunglasses were broken. w scales are used for weighing objects. w the happy pair is /are going to paris for their honey- moon. w a pair of swans is /are swimming in the lake. w nouns ending in -ings are generally used as plural: wbelongings(所有物), doings(行为), droppings(鸟兽 的粪便; w蜡烛的烛泪), digging

22、s(发掘物; 尤指金矿区, 金矿 矿工宿营 w地), findings(调查结果), furnishings(室内陈设), leavings w(剩余, 残渣), peelings(土豆等剥下的皮), pickings(赃物, 不 w义之财), savings(储蓄), shavings(刨花), winnings(奖金, 赢 w得的钱), workings(活动方式), writings(作品), etc. we.g.: the surroundings of the house are remarkably picturesque. w w but tidings(消息) / rejoic

23、ings(欢庆, 欢宴): both plural wand singular) we.g.: the tidings were/was received with shouts of joy. w the arabian nights is read all over the world. w somebodies and nobodies was written by robert w. fuller in 2004. w the new york times has a wide circulation. (the times: 泰晤士报(英国) ) w people is an inf

24、luential magazine in america. w “pride goes before a fall” is his motto. 以复数形式出现的书名、剧名、报 纸、杂志名，甚至格言作主语时, 尽 管可能是复数, 但谓语动词应用单数。 如： 以复数形式出现的表示同姓一家人， 谓语动词用复数。 e.g.: the smiths were also invited. 2.3 problems of concord with collective nouns as subject collective nouns are singular in form but plural in

25、mean- ing. most of them are followed by plural verbs while some of them by singular verbs. 1) the collective nouns that refer to people or animals that have life are regarded as plural: faculty, militia, personnel, clergy, peasantry, people, police, poultry, cattle, vermin e.g.: the police have made

26、 many arrests because of the drivers high alcoholic content. 2) collective nouns that refer to things that do not have life are treated as singular: cutlery, jewelery, poetry, merchandise, machinery, scenery, luggage, clothing, furniture, equipment, foliage 3) there are collective nouns that can be

27、used either as plural or as singular. the choice between grammatical and notional concord is mostly dictated by usage. e.g.: family, class, team, college, committee, army, audience, board, chorus, club, company, enemy, brood, majority, minority, public, crew, jury, council, party, government, commun

28、ity, department, congregation, staff, fleet, gang, flock, herd, media, data, cast, navy, opposition, nobility, profession 如被看作一个整体如被看作一个整体, 谓语动词用单数谓语动词用单数; 如被看作组成该如被看作组成该 集体的一个个成员集体的一个个成员, 则谓语动词用复数形式。则谓语动词用复数形式。 compare: this class consists of 45 pupils. this class are reading english now. 4) a comm

29、ittee of, etc + plural noun when a plural noun is preceded by a committee of/ a board of/ a panel of, the verb usually takes the singular form. e.g.: a committee of five men and three women is to consider the matter. the board of directors is responsible for the management of the company. 5) the + a

30、djective the subject may also take the form of the +adjective, which is notionally equivalent to a collective noun. with such a subject, the choice between a plural or a singular verb depends on whether the adjective refers to a group of people or to a particular person or an abstract quality. w “th

31、e + 形容词”要根据意义一致原则决定谓语 动词的数的形式, 如果这种主语指的是一类人, 动词 用复数; 如果指 的是单个人或抽象概念, 动词用单数。 the + adjective referring to a group of people: e.g.: the rich are becoming richer; the poor poorer. the old are self-conceited because of their rich experience while the young are proud of their youth- fulness. the old care

32、 for the young and the young respect the old. the dead were buried after the battle. the aged are well taken care of in the village. the brave are honored. (勇敢的人无上光荣。) the sick have been cured and the lost have been found. only the poor know what poverty means. 常用的表示名词化的形容词有常用的表示名词化的形容词有: the blind/

33、 the brave/ the wise/ the absent/ the weak/ the strong/ the living/ the dead/ the lame/ the dumb/ the capable/ the innocent/ the wounded/ the learned/ the industrious/ the few/ the unemployed/ the accused / the oppressed/ the condemned / the wretched (穷人) / the injured / the wicked (邪恶的人), etc. the

34、+ adjective referring to a particular person: e.g.: there are two men in the room. the old is the youngs father. the accused was sentenced to death by the court. the condemned (被判刑的人) was moved to another prison. the deceased was his father, who left him a large sum of money. the departed was a good

35、 friend of his. 死者是他的一个好朋友。 the wounded was / were carried to the ambulance. the + adjective referring to an abstract quality: e.g.: the new is sure to replace the old. 新生事物一定会代替旧事物。新生事物一定会代替旧事物。 the beautiful is not always the same as the good. 漂亮的不一定就等于好。漂亮的不一定就等于好。 the unknown is usu. feared. 不明之物通常令人害怕。不明之物通常令人害怕。 the agreeable is not always the useful. 好看的不一定实用。好看的不一定实用。 the good in him overweighs the bad. 他的优点大于缺点。他的优点大于