英语语法主谓一致

1、第一讲 主谓一致“一致”（Concord 或Agreement）是指句子成分之间词语之间在语法形式上的协调关系。主要有主语与动词的一致，主语与补语的一致，限定词与名词中心词的一致，人称代词与并列和非并列先行词的一致，名词与名词或代词的一致。“主谓一致”是指主语和谓语动词之间在人称和数的方面的一致关系，这又叫做“主动一致”（Subjectverb Concord）。1. 主谓一致三原则主语和随后的动词(词组)，即谓语动词之间的一致关系常为三种不同的原则所支配，即语法一致原则(Grammar Concord)，意义一致原则(Notional Concord)和就近原则(Principle of P

2、roximity)。1.1 语法一致指作主语的名词中心词是复数，动词就用复数形式；如果名词中心词是单数名词或不可数名词，动词就用单数形式。例如：Both boys have their own merits. In my heart are peace and goodwill. The elevator works very well. Much effort is wasted. 1.2 意义概念一直指主语和动词的一致关系并非取决于语法上的单、复数形式，而是取决于主语的单、复数意义。有时主语在语法形式上并非复数，但有复数意义，随后的动词就用复数；主语在语法形式上是复数，而在意义上可视为单数

3、，随后的动词用单数。例如：The jury has asked more time. The jury are unable to agree. Fifty minutes isnt enough time to finish this test. “ Senior citizens ” means people over sixty.1.3 就近原则指谓语动词的单、复数形式取决于最靠近它的词语的单、复数形式，而不是与充当主语的名词短语中心词相一致。例如：Not just the students but even their teacher is enjoying the film. Nei

4、ther Julia nor I am going. Only one out of five were present. No one except his own supporters agree with him. 但是在实际应用中，语法一致原则与其他两个原则经常发生矛盾，这时语法一致是应遵循的根本原则。下面从几个容易引起疑难问题的方面来进一步阐述主谓一致关系。 2. 并列主语和谓语动词的一致 2.1 and 连接的并列主语与谓语动词的一致 a. 由and 或both and 连接的并列结构作主语，指两个或两个以上的人或物，谓语动词用复数。例如： The food and ( the )

5、 textile industry depend mainly on agriculture for raw material.To mean to do something and to actually do something are two different things. Rain, hail and wind have caused an estimated $22,000 damage to crops and livestock. War and peace are alternatives between which man must constantly choose.

6、b. 作主语的并列结构表示单数意义，谓语动词用单数。这时并列主语前常只有一个冠词或限定词，或者没有冠词或限定词。例如： The hammer and sickle was flying from the flagpole. The iron and steel industry plays an important part in our national economy. My colleague and friend is near deaths door. The Bat and Ball sells good beer. War and peace is a constant them

7、e. Ham and egg is a good breakfast.Fish and chips (a dish of food) is very popular in Norway. Whisky and soda (a drink) is my favourite drink.Peaches and cream is delicious. To try and fail is better than not try at all. c. 有一些由and连接的并列主语，其单、复数意义不很明确，只能根据上下文判定。例如： A friend and helper was / were stan

8、ding nearby. The secretary and accountant of the company was / were present. His aged servant and the subsequent editor of his collected papers was / were with him at his death bed. d. 有的并列主语(常为抽象名词)前只有一个或者没有冠词或限定词，虽然表示单一概念，但既可接单数动词，又可接复数动词。例如： Her calmness and confidence is / are astonishing. Time

9、and tide waits / wait for no man. Law and order has / have been established. The safety and happiness of the whole depends / depend on each individuals effort. e. 有时并列主语中省略了重复的并列名词、修饰语，或者只有一个冠词，但它们不能表示结合成一体的概念，只能被视为不同事物或个体，只能接复数动词。例如： Good ( taste ) and bad taste are inculcated by example. A man and

10、 (a ) woman are talking in the living room. White and brown sugar are acceptable for this recipe.The short- term ( loan ) and the long-term loan are handled very differently by the bank. The short- term and (the ) long-term loan American and Dutch beer are much lighter than British beer.The red and

11、(the) white rose are beautiful. ( A red rose and a white rose ) Beer from America and Holland is much lighter than British beer. The red and white rose is beautiful. ( A rose with red and white colour ) f. 在there, here 和where 结构中：正式语体，不管并列主语中的名词是单数还是复数，谓语动词都用复数形式；非正式语体，如果并列主语中的第一个主语是单数，谓语动词就用单数形式。例如

12、： Inside there are / is a desk, a table and two chairs. There were / was both courage and dignity in her manner. (There is more grace and less carelessness.) Here are / is John and Mary. 但当主语前带有限定词 one or two 时，谓语动词只能用复数形式。例如： There are one or two subjects on which you are bound to have but one opin

13、ion. g. 如果并列主语中的第二个主语前有not，谓语动词的单、复数形式应和not前的主语相一致。例如： The teacher, and not the students designs the examination questions. It is you, not I who are afraid to pursue this subject further. h. 并列名词词组前有each, every, many a, no, more than one 等限定词时，随后的动词常用单数。例如： Every boy and ( every ) girl in this class

14、 is entitled to a copy. Every man, woman, and child in this community is now aware of the terrible consequences of the habit of smoking. Many a man and woman in this community finds himself or herself in need. No man and no woman has ever broken such a record. i. 并列wh- 分句作主语，一般用复数动词；一个含有并列谓语的wh- 分句作

15、主语，接单数动词。例如：What he says and what he does are two different things. What I say and what I think are my own affair. What he says and thinks is no business of yours. What I say and do is my own affair. What I say or what I think is no business of yours. j. 当“one and + 分数百分数” 这种结构作主语时，只能接复数谓语动词。因为复数的概念

16、不是至少两个，而是一个以上。例如： He went away on June, 15, and one and a half months have passed, and its July 30. One and a half years have passed since we last met. ( one and a half +复数名词作主语，接复数动词) He went away on June 15, and now a month and a half has passed, and its July 30. A year and a half has passed since

17、 we last met.( a + 单数名词+ and a half 作主语，接单数动词) 2.2 and以外的并列连词连接的并列主语与谓语动词的一致 a. 由or, eitheror, nor, neithernor, notbut, not onlybut (also) 连接的并列主语，其谓语动词通常采用就近原则。例如： John or his brothers are to blame. Were you or he on duty ? You or he is on duty today. Am I or you responsible ? Either your brakes or

18、 your eyesight is at fault. Not any flowers nor even a blade of grass is to be seen there. Neither the players nor the coach was overconfident. Not Angela but her parents want to lose fat but they just cant control their appetite.Not only the switches but also the old wiring has been changed. 但是在非正式

19、语体中，eitheror, neithernor连接的并列主语，即使均为单数主语，所接动词可用复数形式。例如： Either you or I am / are going. Neither he nor his wife has / have seen such a film. Neither Jean nor James finishes / finish the work properly. b. 当主语后面跟有with, along with, together with, as well as, in addition to, as much as, except, but, rat

20、her than, no less than 引导的词组时，该词组被视为从属结构。随后的谓语动词形式通常采用语法一致的原则，即依主语本身的单、复数形式而定。例如： The headmaster with the rest of the staff was having a heated discussion. The president, together with his advisors, is preparing a statement on the crisis. The father, as well as his sons, is going to enroll. The barn

21、, in addition to the house, was burned. Some of the workers as much as the manager were responsible for the loss.Man, no less than the lower forms of life, is the product of the evolutionary process. No one except two girls was late for dinner. His brother rather than his parents is to blame.3. 以 -s

22、结尾的名词作主语的主谓一致有一些以 -s结尾的名词，它们当中有的作单数意义，有的作复数意义，有的既可接单数动词又可接复数动词，其意义基本相同或不同。3.1 以 s 结尾的疾病名称和游戏名称a. 以 s 结尾的疾病名称，如 arthritis (关节炎), bronchitis (支气管炎), mumps (腮腺炎), diabetes (糖尿病)，measles 等，通常接单数动词；但也有一些疾病名称后既可接单数动词，也可接复数动词。例如： Mumps is a kind of infectious disease. Generally, measles occurs in children.

23、 Measles are sometimes caused by tapeworm.b. 以 s 结尾的游戏名称通常接单数动词；但也有个别这样的名称接复数动词。例如： Darts is essentially a free and easy game. Marbles is one of the oldest games and was not confined to children.Cards are not allowed here. 当 darts, marbles 等用于做这些游戏所用的“镖”或“弹子”等意义时，随后的动词用复数形式。例如： Three darts are throw

24、n at each turn. Marbles vary in kind and quality. 3.2 以 ics 结尾的学科名称以 ics 结尾的学科名称，如 athletics, economics, linguistics, mathematics, mechanics, physics, politics, statistics 等，通常作单数意义，接单数动词；但若这类名词表示学科以外的其他意义，便可作复数用。例如： Mathematics is the study of numbers. Athletics is a required course of students of

25、all grades. My mathematics is / are rather shaky. Athletics have been greatly promoted at this college. The economics of the project are still being considered. Statistics show that the number of housewives who work part-time has increased in the last few years in the U.S. 3.3 以 s 结尾的地理名称 以 s 结尾的表示国

26、名、组织等政治实体的地理名称，通常作单数；以 s 结尾的表示山脉、群岛、海峡、瀑布等地理名称，通常用作复数。例如：The United States is a country of people with varied origins. In January 1976, the Netherlands was hit by its worst storm since 1953. The West Indies, apart from the Bahamas, are commonly divided into two parts. The Himalayas have a magnificen

27、t variety of plant and animal life. The Niagara Falls are perhaps the most famous waterfalls in the world. 但“奥运会”无论含不含games 都接复数动词。The Olympic Games are an international sports competition.The Olympics were started again in the nineteenth century. 3.4 其他以 s 结尾的名词a. 一些由两部分组成的物体名称通常是以 s 结尾，如 glasses,

28、pincers, scissors, shorts, suspenders, trousers 等。这类名词通常用作复数；如果这类名词前有单位词，如 a pair of, two pairs of, 则由单位词的单、复数形式决定谓语动词的单、复数形式。例如： Joes new trousers are black and white. One pair of scissors isnt enough. b. 由 s 结尾的名词，如archives, arms, clothes, contents, fireworks, goods, morals, remains, stairs, subur

29、bs, thanks, wages， 通常用作复数。例如：The archives of this society are kept in the basement. The contents of this book are most fascinating. High wages often result in high prices. His thanks were most profuse. 但也有不少这类名词，用作单、复数均可，如 whereabouts, dramatics 等。例如： His whereabouts were / was known only to his par

30、ents. The dramatics of the performance were / was marvelous. c. 凡是由 ing 结尾的名词，如 clippings, diggings, earnings, filings, lodgings, savings, surroundings, sweepings 等，通常用作复数；但 tidings (消息) 既可用作复数，也可用作单数。例如：The clippings of the hedges are usually burnt. The sweepings of the godown have been disposed of

31、. Good tidings have cheered them up. The tidings has come a little too late. d. 还有一些以 s 结尾的单、复数同形的名词，如barracks, headquarters, manners, means, series, species, works，随后动词的单、复数形式取决于这些名词在句中是用作单数意义还是复数意义。例如：A barracks was stormed by the enemy troops. Two barracks in the suburbs have been surrounded. A s

32、eries of pre-recorded tapes has been prepared for language lab use. There are two series of readers: one for beginners and one for advanced students. A new species of butterfly has been found. Altogether, about 120 species of sea snail are known. 但有少数这类名词，用作单数或复数所表示意义不同。例如：His remains (遗体) lie in th

33、e churchyard. The martyrs remains (遗体遗物) were buried at the foot of the hill. Here is the remains (遗址遗迹) of a temple. The remains (剩余物) of the meal were / was fed to the dogs. 4. 集体名词的主谓一致集体名词(Collective Noun)，如 committee, government, group, police, team 等，在意义上是复数，而在语法形式上是单数。以这类名词作主语的主谓致问题往往是对“语法一致”

34、或“意义一致”两种原则的选择。这种选择通常遵循以下原则：4.1 通常用作复数的集体名词有些集体名词，如 cattle, militia (民兵), people, police, poultry (家禽), vermin(害虫) 等,通常作复数，随后的动词用复数。例如： Domestic cattle provide us with milk, beef and hides. Such vermin as rats are hard to get rid of. The Chinese people are a great people.4.2 通常作不可数名词的集体名词又有一些集体名词，如e

35、quipment, furniture, machinery, merchandise，通常作不可数名词，随后的动词用单数。例如： The merchandise has arrived undamaged. All the machinery in the factory is made in China. a piece of equipment / furniture military equipments4.3 既可作单数也可作复数的集体名词还有一些集体名词，如audience, class, committee, crew, family, government, group, pu

36、blic 等，既可用作单数，也可用作复数。随后的动词用单数还是用复数，取决于这些集体名词在具体上下文中的确切意义。如将该名词所表示的集体视为一个整体，则动词用单数；如将侧重点放在组成集体的成员上，动词用复数。例如： The anti-crime committee is to make its report tomorrow. The committee are divided in opinion about this problem. The crew is large. The crew are paid to do all the work on the ship. After lun

37、ch, this brilliantly dressed group of persons goes down to the gambling room. That group of soldiers have the best ratings of individual performance. 4.4 a board of 等 + 复数名词结构如果主语是由 a board of / a committee of / a panel of + 复数名词构成，随后的动词常用单数。例如：A committee of five men and three women is to consider

38、the matter. A panel of distinguished people has been chosen to judge this competition. It is meeting tomorrow. The board of directors is responsible for the management of the firm. 5. 以表示数量概念的名词词组作主语的主谓一致5.1 以表示确定数量的名词词组作主语当主语为表示确定数量的名词词组时，主谓一致问题应该遵循以下原则：a. 如果作主语的数量概念被看作一个整体，动词用单数；如果该数量概念被看作组成该数量的一个

39、个的个体则动词用复数。例如： He thought that 65 dollars was not too much to ask. Five hours is needed to complete the outline. Three miles was too long a distance for Freedman to run. There were six silver dollars in each of the stockings. b. 如果作主语的名词词组是由“分数百分数+ of -”词组构成，其动词形式依 of- 词组中名词形式而定。of- 词组中名词是复数，谓语动词就用复

40、数；of- 词组中名词是单数或不可数名词，谓语动词就用单数。例如： Over 60% of the city was destroyed in the war. Nearly two thirds of the doctors are women. One fourth of the stuff is going to waste. c. 主语是表示两数相加或相乘的词组，动词可用单数，也可用复数；如果主语是表示两数相减或相除的词组，动词用单数。例如： Seven plus / and five makes / make twelve. Three plus six equals / equal

41、 nine. Five times eight are / is forty. Twice twelve makes / make twenty-four. Four sevens are twenty-eight.Forty minus fifteen leaves / is twenty-five. Four from six leaves two. Forty divided by eight equals / is five. d. 如果主语由“one in / one out of + 复数名词”构成，在正式语体中，动词用单数（语法一致原则）；在非正式语体中，动词也可按“就近原则”，

42、用复数。例如： One in ten students has / have failed the exam. One out of twenty buildings was / were damaged.5.2 以表示非确定数量的名词词组作主语当主语为表示非确定数量的名词词组时，主谓一致问题应该遵循以下原则：a. 如果主语是all of , some of , noun of , half of , most of 等表示非确定数量的名词词组，其后的动词形式依of 词组中的名词形式而定。例如： All of the cargo was lost. All of the crew were s

43、aved. Some of the money has been stolen. Some of the books were lost. Half of the building was damaged in the explosion. Half of the students are girls. b. 如果主语是由“lots of, heaps of, loads of, plenty of + 名词”构成，表示“许多”等概念时，随后动词的单、复数形式也依 of - 词组中名词形式而定。例如：Lots of food is going to waste. Lots of people

44、are waiting outside. Loads of milk has been distributed among the children. Loads of apples have been picked. c. 如果主语是由“a portion of, a series of, a pile of + 名词”构成，不管 of 词组中的名词形式是单数还是复数，随后的动词通常用单数。例如：A substantial portion of the reports is missing. A series of accidents has been reported. A pile of

45、 logs was set beside the gate. d. 如果主语是由“a kind of, a sort of, a type of, this kind of, this sort of, this type of + 名词”构成，随后的动词用单数。例如：This kind of man annoys me. That type of men is dangerous. This sort of apples is highly priced. 但若在 kind / sort / type 之前的限定词是 these / those / two / three，同时 of 词组中

46、的名词又是复数，则动词用复数。例如：These kind of men annoy me. Those sort of machines are up to date. e. 如果主语是由“many a, more than one + 单数可数名词”构成，其意义虽属复数，但随后的谓语动词要遵循“语法一致”的原则，用单数。例如：Many a man has done his duty. More than one game has lost. f. 如果主语是由“an average of, a majority of + 复数名词”构成，而且明确表示多数个体概念，随后的动词用复数。例如：An

47、 average of 25 persons apply each month.A majority of the towns younger men are moving to the city. 但如果这类主语的中心词是“average, majority ”，则动词用单数。例如： An average of 25 applicants a month is not unusual. A majority of three votes to one was recorded. 6. 其他方面的主谓一致问题6.1 以名词性分句作主语的主谓一致由 what, who, when, where,

48、 why, whether, which, how 等疑问代词副词引导的名词性分句作主语，其后的动词通常用单数；两个由 and 连接的或多个并列名词性分句作主语，动词用复数。例如：What caused the accident is a complete mystery. What caused the accident and who was responsible for it remain a mystery to us. 在以what 分句作主语的SVC 结构中，如果主句主语补语是复数名词，主句谓语动词可用复数；如果what 分句本身明显表示复数意义，如 what 分句的动词和补语都

49、是复数，那么主句动词也应用复数。例如：What we need most is / are books. ( Books are what we need most. )What was real to him were the details of his life. What are often regarded as poisonous fungi are sometimes edible. 6.2 以非限定分句作主语的主谓一致以非限定分句(即不定式分句和 -ing 分句)作主语，随后的动词通常用单数；但是以两个由 and 连接的或多个并列非限定分句作主语，如果指的是两件或多件事，动词用

50、复数；如果指的是一件事，动词用单数。例如：To climb mountains requires courage. Increasing their wages has raised the crews morale. Reading Shakespeare and solving a quadratic equation are entirely different assignments.Drinking cows milk and getting plenty of exercise were responsible for his good health. To make life w

51、orth living and to raise the standard of comfort sounds well.Starting and stopping the flow of current in a wire many thousand times a second is almost impossible.6.3 关系分句中的主谓一致关系分句(Relative Clause)中谓语动词的单、复数形式通常依关系代词(Relative Pronoun)的先行项(Antecedent)的形式而定。在“One of + 复数名词+ 关系分句”的结构中，关系分句的谓语动词通常依照“语法

52、一致”原则，用复数形式；如果在这类结构之前有定冠词the 或the only 等限定词或强调词时，关系分句的谓语动词只能用单数。例如：Joan is one of those people who go out of their way to be helpful. He is one of those people who are afraid to act. ( = Of those people who are afraid to act, he is one. ) He is one of those people who is afraid to act. ( = Of those

53、people, he is one who is afraid to act. ) Keven is the only one of the players who has learned all the rules. Joe is the one of the boys who is on time. 但是如果在这类结构之前有形容词最高级作修饰语时，关系分句的谓语动词只能用复数。例如： The newest one of the automobiles that are in working order was bought not long ago. This is the best one o