试议主谓 英语主谓一致结论

论文导读：urbooksonthedesk.(桌子上有一盏灯、两支钢笔和四本书。)Hereisapen12下一页
主谓一致是一个语法范畴,是指英语中的谓语在人称、数及意义方面和作主语的名词或代词保持一致,这是一条根本的语法规则。但是,由于句子中的主语常常有着不同的修饰或并列成分,总会对句子谓语动词的单复数有很大的不确定性,所以本文就英语主谓一致中常出现的问题进行整理归纳,以便掌握这一语法现象的要领和难点。

一、英语主谓一致的一般原则

在了解英语主谓一致的要领和难点的同时,我们应首先注意以下三个原则:

(一)语法一致原则

语法一致指的是主语和谓语在语法形式上保持一致。主语为单数,谓语用单数;主语为复数,谓语也用复数。
如:① The child is playing outside.(孩子正在外面玩耍。)
(主语和谓语动词都是单数形式)
② The children are playing outside.(孩子们正在外面玩耍。)
(主语和谓语动词都用复数形式)

(二)意义一致原则

意义一致是指主语和谓语根据意思上的单、复数确定其一致关系。主语意义为单数,谓语用单数;主语意义为复数,谓语用复数。
如:① The family were watching film last night.
(昨晚全家在看电影。)
(主语是单数名词family,但表复数概念,故用复数形式were)
② Five minutes is enough.
(五分钟就够了。)
(主语是复数名词minutes,但表单数概念,故用单数形式is)

(三)邻近一致原则

邻近一致原则是指当主语有两个或两个以上时,谓语动词根据靠近它的主语确定其人称和数的形式。
如:① Either you or he is wrong.
(要么是你的错,要么是他的错。)
(谓语is要与邻近的单数名词he 保持一致)
② Neither he or you are required to overwork.
(他和你们都不用加班。)
(谓语are要与邻近的复数名词you保持一致)
上述三个原则只是主谓一致的一般原则。下面围绕这一点,讨论较为复杂和特殊的情况。

二、英语主谓一致的特殊情况

(一)当两个名词指同一概念或同一个人时,谓语动词用单数

如:The professor and writer is speaking at the meeting.
(那位教授作家正在会上发言。)
Bread and butter is a daily food in the west.
(黄油面包是西方人的日常食物。)
(二)如果主语是单数,尽管后面跟有with,together with,as well as,less than,but,except等引起的短语,谓语动词仍旧用单数
如: An expert together with some assistants,was sent to help in this work.
(一位专家和一些助手被派去帮助做这工作。)
但是如果表示单个人的主语和with sb.连用而后用both引出一个陪衬性的动作或状态(以非谓语动词表示),这时句子中的谓语动词以复数为宜。
如:One man with his wife,both looking very anxious,were asking the to let them through.
(有一个男子和他的妻子,他俩神色焦虑,正在请求守卫放行。)
(三)代词each和every,some,no,any构成的复合代词作主语时,谓语动词用单数
如:Everything is ready.
(一切都准备好了。)
Nobody knows about it.
(没有人知道此事。)

(四)当主语表示数字、时间、金额、距离、重量、体积时,其谓语动词通常用单数

如:Twenty years is a long time.
(二十年是很长的时间。)
Another fifty dollars is what we need.
(我们另外还需五十元钱。)

(五)集合名词作主语时,谓语动词的数与主语后的数相一致

如:The committee meets twice a month.
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(委员会一月开两次会。)
The committee are divided in opinion.
(委员们意见有分歧。)
对于集合名词,我们要特别加以注意,有些集合名词,如police,poultry,cattle等,在任何情况下都用作复数;有些词(多数为不可数名词),如mankind,furniture,information,mail,corn,luggage等常用作单数。
(六)代词what,some,any,all后面的谓语动词可以用单数,也可以用复数,这主要看其所含的数目而定
如:What is on the table?
(桌子上是什么东西?)
(what表单数概念,故用单数动词)
What are on the table?
(桌子上是些什么东西?)
(what表复数概念,故用复数动词)
(七)并列连词or,either…or,neither…nor,not only…but(also)连接两个主语时,谓语动词与靠近的主语保持数的一致
如:Either you or he is to do the work.(不是你就是他来做这工作。)
Neither air nor natural gas is chemical compound.
(空气和天然气都不是化合物。)
(八)如果一个句子由there或here引起,而主语不止一个,谓语动词通常也和最邻近的那个主语一致
如:There is a lamp ,two pens and four books on the desk.
(桌子上有一盏灯、两支钢笔和四本书。)
Here is a pen论文导读：:Morethanonequestionwasasked.(提出的问题不止一个。)Morethanonepersonisinvolvedinthis.(与此事有牵连的人不止一个。)Manyafinem源于：标准论文www.7ctime.comanhasdiedinthatbattle.(许多优秀的兵士死于那次战役。)There’anyaslipbetweenthecupandlip.(事
,a few envelopes and some paper for you.
(这儿有一支钢笔、几个信封和一些纸给你。)
(九)有些名词如scissors(剪刀),trousers(裤子),shorts(运动短裤),tongs(夹子),pincers(钳子),compasses(圆规),scales(天平)等只有复数形式,其谓语动词用复数
如:The scissors are very sharp.
(这把剪刀很锋利。)
但如使用a pair of……结构时,其谓语动词用单数。
如:A pair of shoes is a nice present.
(一双鞋是一个非常好的礼物。)
On the table was a pair of scales.
(桌上有一台天平。)
(十)用“more than one十单数名词”,及“many a+单数名词”结构都需接单数动词
如: More than one question was asked.
(提出的问题不止一个。)
More than one person is involved in this.
(与此事有牵连的人不止一个。)
Many a fine m源于：标准论文www.7ctime.com
an has died in that battle.
(许多优秀的兵士死于那次战役。)
There’s many a slip between the cup and lip.
(事情往往会功亏一篑。)
但“many a+单数名词”的结构比较书面化,多用于正式文体中。
(十一)主语为名词化的形容词、分词时,谓语动词的形式应决定于主语的概念
如:The true is to be distinguished from the false.
(真应与假相区别。)
The good are happy.
(善者常乐。)
(十二)代词all表示人,谓语动词用复数;all概括地表示物,则其谓语用第三人称单数形式;若具体地指这些或那些东西的全部,则谓语动词仍可用复数形式
如:All is well that ends well.
(结局好则一切都好。)
All of the books were written in English.
(所有这些书是用英语写成。)