第十三章 主谓一致

第十三章主谓一致一、指导原则主谓一致指“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(grammaticalconcord)意义一致原则(notionalconcord)就近原则(principleofproximity)（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：Thistableisagenuineantique.Bothpartieshavetheirownadvantages.Herjobhassomethingtodowithcomputers.Shewantstogohome.Theyaredivorcingeachother.Marywaswatchingherselfinthemirror.Thebirdbuiltanest.Susancomeshomeeveryweek-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：Democraticgovernmentgraduallytaketheplaceofanall-powerfulmonarchy.Abarrackswasattackedbytheguerilla.Mumpsisakindofinfectiousdisease.TheUnitedStatesisadevelopedcountry.Itistheremainsofaruinedpalace.Thearchiveswaslost.Thispairoftrouserscostsfiftydollars.（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：Eithermygrandsonsortheirfatheriscoming.Nooneexcepthisdaughtersagreewithhim.Maryandhersistersarebakingacake.NeitherRichardnorIamgoing.二、以集合名词做主语的主谓一致问题有些集合名词，如committee,council,crew,crowd,family,gang,government,group,mob,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“语法一致”或“意义一致”原则。例如：Thecommitteehas/havedecidedtodismisshim.Acouncilofeldersgovernsthetribe.Thepresentgovernmentistryingtocontrolinflation.Theschoolstaffareexpectedtosuperviseschoolmeals.（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：TheBritishpolicehaveonlyverylimitedpowers.Themilitiawerecalledouttoguardtheborderland.Itseemsthecattleonthesidesofthedikesweretheonlylivingcreaturesinthesedesolatesurroundings.

（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,merchandise等,这类名词后的动词用单数形式。例如：Poultryisexpensiveatthistimeofyear.Thatgreenfoliagewasrestful.Themerchandisehasarrivedundamaged.AllthemachineryinthefactoryismadeinChina.Thesuiteoffurnitureheboughtwasofcontemporarystyle.Theequipmentofthephotographicstudiowasexpensive.

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,包括audience,committee,crew,family,government,jury等。例如：Theaudiencewas/wereenthusiasticontheopeningnightoftheplay.Thecommitteehas/havedecidedtodismisshim.Thejuryis/areabouttoannouncethewinners.Thegovernmenthas/havediscussedthematterforalongtim三、acommittee,etcof+复数名词的主谓一致问题如果主语是由acommitteeof/apanelof/a(the)boardof+复数名词构成，随后的动词通常用单数。例如：Acommitteeoftwelvemenistodiscussthematter.Apanelofexpertshasconsideredthesituation.Theboardofmanagersisresponsibleforthefirm.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-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（三）以-s结尾的地理名称作主语的主谓一致问题（四）以-ics结尾的学科名称作主语的主谓一致问题（五）其它以-s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,phlebitis,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：Arthritiscausesgreatpaininthejointsofthepatient.Thediabetesisakindofchronicdisease.Measlesusuallyoccursinchildren.Phlebitisisaswollenconditionofthebloodvessels.（二）以-s结尾的游戏名称作主语的主谓一致问题以-s结尾的游戏名称作主语时，谓语动词通常用作单数。例如：Dartsisbasicallyaeasygame.Marblesisnotconfinedtochildren.Skittlesisnotfashionablenowadays.Draughtsisnotverydifficulttolearn但当Darts，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：Threedartsarethrownateachturn.Allnineskittleswerebroughtdownbythegoodthrow.

（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theUnitedStates，theNetherlands等，因其是单一政治实体，所以谓语动词用作单数。例如：TheUnitedStateswashitbytheGreatDepressionin1930s'.InearlyJanuary1996theNetherlandswashitbyitsworststormsince1976.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：TheWestIndiesarecommonlydividedintotwoparts.TheHimalayashaveamagnificentvarietyofplant.TheStraitsofGibraltarhavenotlosttheirstrategicimportance.TheNiagaraFallsareperhapsthemostsplendidwaterfallintheworld.（四）以-ics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,politicsstatistics,economics,linguistics,athletics等,谓语动词通常用作单数。例如：Physicsisafundamentalsubjectinscience.Thethirdworldeconomicsispromising.Acousticsstudiesthescienceofsound.Mathematicsisaninterestingsubject.Athleticsisarequiredcourseforstudentsofallgrades.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：Athleticshavebeengreatlyencouragedatthiscollege.Theacousticsofthenewconcerthallareperfect.Theeconomicsoftheprojectarestillatissue.（五）其它以-s结尾的名词的主谓一致问题A.以-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,suspenders,trousers等，这类名词做主语，如果不带“一把”、“一副”等单位词，谓语动词通常用复数。例如：Mary'sglassesarenew.John'strousersareblack.如果带有单位词，则由单位词决定动词的单、复数形式。例如：Onepairofpincersisn'tenough.Twopairsofscissorsaremissingfrommytoolbox.B.其他以-s结尾的名词英语中还有一些以-s结尾的名词，如archives，arms,clothes,contents,eaves,fireworks,goods,minutes,morals,remainsstairs,suburbs,thanks,wages这类名词作主语时，谓语动词通常用复数。例如：ThearchivesofthecountryarekeptintheDepartmentofSecurity.Thecontentsofthebookaremostamusing.Highwagesoftenresultinhighprices.Mythanksaresincere.五、如果句子的主语是并列结构，其主谓一致问题通常遵循以下原则：（一）由and/both...and连接的并列主语的主谓一致问题（二）由or/nor/either...or连接的并列主语的主谓一致问题（三）主语+asmuchas,etc的主谓一致问题

（一）由and/both...and连接的并列主语的主谓一致问题由and/both...and连接的并列结构作主语，可根据主语的意义决定谓语动词的单、复数形式。例如：Pancakesandsyrupisatastybreakfast.ThenumberanddiversityofBritishnewspaperisconsiderable.Goodandbadtasteareinculcatedbyexample.Fishandchipsaregettingveryexpensive.Atruckandacarwereintheditch.BothCathyandherdaughterLidahavegonefishinginCanada.当and连接的并列名词词组带有each，every,或者manya等限定词时，谓语动词通常用单数

例如：Eachmanandeachwomanthereisaskedtohelp.Everyflowerandeverybushistobecutdown.Everychangeofseason,everychangeofweather,indeedeveryhouroftheday,producessomechangeinthemagicalhuesandshapesofthesemountains.Manyaboywasdisappointedafterseeingthefilm.（二）由or/nor/either...or连接的并列主语的主谓一致问题由or,nor,either...or,neither...nor,notonly...butalso连接的并列结构作主语，随后的动词形式通常按照“就近原则”处理。例如：NeitherLucynorCarolhasanymoneyleft.NeithersleetnorsnowstopshimfromdrivinghisnewMercedes-Benz.EitherTinaorCarolissuretoknowtheanswer.Neithermyfathernormybrothersarelikelytobeattheater.NeithertheKansascoachnortheplayerswereconfidentofvictory.Notonlyone,butallofusarehopingtobethere.Notonlytheswitchesbutalsotheoldwiringhasbeenstolen.（三）主语+asmuchas,etc的主谓一致问题当主语后面跟有由asmuchas,ratherthan,morethan,nolessthan等引导的从属结构，或跟有由aswellas,inadditionto,with,alongwith,togetherwith,except等引导的词组时，其后的动词形式取决主语的形式。例如：Thevessel,withitsentirecrewandcargowaslost.Theocean,aswellasthegulfandthebay,providesgoodfishing.John,ratherthanhisroommates,istoblame.Hugh,aswellashistwosisters,isvacationinginWyomingthissummer.Someoftheemployeesasmuchasthemanagerwereresponsibleforthefailure.Myhusband,morethananyoneelseinthefamily,islongingtogothereagain.Billy,togetherwithhissisters,waswoundedintheaccident.Nooneexcepttwogirlswaslateforschool.六、以表示数量概念的名词词组作主语的主谓一致问题数量概念分两类：一类是确定数量，如twoyears,fiveseconds,threekilos,等，另一类是非确定数量，如allof...,someof...,noneof...。如果用这类表示数量概念的名词词组作主语，会产生主谓一致问题。（一）以表示确定数量的名词词组作主语的主谓一致问题（二）以表示非确定数量的名词词组作主语的主谓一致问题（一）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，如果数量概念被看做一个整体，动词用单数，如果被看做组成该数量的个体，动词用复数。例如：Thetreasurerconsideredthattwentydollarswasnottoomuchtoask."Twomonthsistooshortatime,"Generalmanagerwarned,"wemusthurryup."Threeweeksisneededtocompletethetask.Thereweresixsilverdollarsineachofthestockings.Threepintsisnotenoughtogethimdrunk.Atotalof50,000newbicycleswasregisteredintheyear.如果作主语的名词词组是由“分数/百分数+of”词组构成，其动词形式取决于of词组中名词的类别。例如：Two-thirdsofthepeoplepresentisagainsttheplan.Three-fourthsofthesurfaceoftheearthiscoveredbysea.Overtwentypercentofthecitywasdestroyedinthewar.Forty-fivepercentofthedoctorswerewoman.两数相减或相除，谓语动词用单数；两数相加或相乘，谓语动词可用单数，也可用复数。例如：Sixtyminusseventeenleavesforty-three.Forty-twodividedbysixisseven.Sixandeightmakes/makefourteen.Sixtimeseightis/areforty-eight.如果主语由"onein/oneoutof+复数名词"构成，在正式语体中，动词用单数。例如：Oneintenstudentshaspassedtheexamination.Oneoutoftwelvebottleswasleftintact.

（二）以表示非确定数量的名词词组作主语的主谓一致问题如果主语由"aportionof,aseriesof,apileof,apanelof+名词"或由“akind/sort/typeof,thiskind/sort/typeof+名词”构成，谓语动词通常用单数。例如：Apanelofushasdecidedtohir