賈杏園 李曉夢
一、注意主語為單數名詞的主謂一致問題
一般來說,當主語為單數名詞時,根據語法一致原則,謂語動詞也采用單數形式。
A merger is a combination of two or more businesses under a single management.
然而,情況并不總是如此,請看下列選擇題:
(1)The committee ? ? ? ? ?(is/are)of the opinion that the time is inopportune.
(2)Good and bad butter ? ? ? ? ?(is/are)things quite different to our taste.
(3)More educators than one ? ? ? ? (wants/want)to expose those educationally disadvantaged students to enriching educational experiences for a five-year period.
以上句子中的主語從形式上看無一不是單數,如果按照語法一致原則,謂語動詞應選擇單數形式。然而,若仔細研究,這些單數形式的名詞在意義上都為復數。因此,如果按照意義一致原則,謂語動詞應采用復數形式。那么,在這種情況下究竟應遵循哪一種原則?答案是,優(yōu)先考慮意義一致原則,即謂語動詞選擇復數形式。
從以上例句也可歸納出以下三條規(guī)則:
1.當主語在形式上是單數但意義為復數時,根據意義一致原則,謂語動詞采用復數形式。(見例1)
2.當主語為“形容詞+and+形容詞+單數名詞”結構時,根據意義一致原則,謂語動詞采用復數形式。(見例2)
3.當主語為“more+復數名詞+than one”結構時,根據意義一致原則,謂語動詞采用復數形式。(見例3)
俗話說,任何規(guī)則都有例外。下面兩條規(guī)則中的“例外”十分重要,需要牢牢記住。
1.當主語為“more than one+單數名詞”結構時,盡管有復數之意,謂語動詞仍采用單數形式。
More than one researcher is investigating a series of indicators that could help them to predict earthquakes.
2.同樣,當主語為“many a+單數名詞”結構時,盡管也有復數之意,謂語動詞仍采用單數形式。
(1)Many a ship has been wrecked on those rocks.
(2)Many a chalet covers the bare hillsides.
二、注意主語為復數名詞的主謂一致問題
當主語為復數名詞時,根據語法一致原則,謂語動詞一般采用復數形式。
Maine’s abundant forests have made it a haven for many kinds of wildlife.
然而,也有例外。請看下列例句:
(1)Billiards is one of his favorite games.
(2)Ten years is a moment in history.
(3)A hundred miles is a long distance.
(4)A series of pre-recorded tapes has been prepared for language laboratory use.
以上句子中的主語盡管都是復數形式,但謂語動詞卻均采用了單數形式。這是因為:
1.當主語形式上是復數但意義為單數時,根據意義一致原則,謂語動詞仍采用單數形式。(見例1)
2.當主語為表示時間、距離、度量等復數名詞時,往往根據意義一致原則,謂語動詞要采用單數形式。(見例2、例3)
3.當主語為“a series of, a portion of, a kind of等+名詞(常為復數名詞)”結構時,謂語動詞一般根據語法一致原則采用單數形式。(見例4)
但是,當主語為“l(fā)ots of, heaps of, loads of, scads of等+名詞”結構時,謂語動詞的單、復數形式取決于其后名詞的單、復數形式。如果名詞是單數形式,動詞也采用單數形式;如果名詞是復數形式,動詞也采用復數形式。
(1)Lots of industrial psychologists are concerned with the manipulation of the worker’s psyche.
(2)Lots of work needs to be done at the moment.
三、注意主語為并列結構的主謂一致問題
1.當主語為and ,both…and連接的兩個名詞詞組時,根據語法一致原則,謂語動詞用復數形式。
The visitors and the guide have whirled through the gloomy villages.
但是,當并列主語在意義上指同一人、同一物、同一事或同一概念時,根據意義一致原則,謂語動詞用單數形式。
(1)Trial and error is the source of knowledge.
(2)If law and order is not preserved, neither the citizen nor his property is safe.
2.當主語前或后跟有with,along with ,together with,as well as,as much as,accompanied by,rather than,more than,no less than,besides,except, like,plus, including, in addition to等引導的詞組時,謂語動詞的單、復數形式依照語法一致原則,取決于主語的單、復數形式。如果主語為單數形式,動詞用單數形式;如果主語為復數形式,動詞用復數形式。
(1)The hostess dressed in her finest costume, together with the guests of honor,was seated comfortably in the living room.
(2)The congressmen, accompanied by secret service agents and aids, are prepared to enter the conventional hall.
3.當主語為each…and each…,every…and every…等結構時,謂語動詞用單數形式。
Each man and each woman has good reasons to be proud of the work done by their fathers.
4.當主語為not only…but also, either…or, neither…nor或or連接的并列主語時,根據就近原則,謂語動詞的單、復數形式取決于最接近它的名詞詞組的單、復數形式。
On most American farms, one or two principal products are raised for a cash crop.