杂谈

谓语动词用单数的情况
1.动名词短语、不定式短语、名词性从句做主语,谓语用单数。如: Buying clothes is often a time-consuming job because those clothes that a person likes are rarely the cones that fit him or her. (1987年考研题) To understand the situation completely requires more thought than has been given thus far.
2.表示时间、距离、金额、重量、面积、体积、容积等度量的名词短语做主语时,谓语用单数。Two weeks was too long Five times five makes twenty five
3.一般用and连接的两个单词或短语做主语时候,谓语用复数,但是下面用and连接的主语表示一个概念,谓语用单数:law and order 法制 soap and water 肥皂水 a cup and saucer 茶杯碟子 fork and knife 刀叉 the needle and thread 针线 trial and error 反复尝试,不断摸索 horse and carriage 马车 time and tide 岁月 bread and butter 奶油面包 the ebb and flow 盛衰,潮涨潮落 如: If law and order not preserved, neither the citizen nor his propertyissafe. A. is B. are C. was d. were 答案:A。
4.表示学科和某些疾病名称的名词是复数形式,作主语时候谓语动词用单数形式Linguistics is a branch of study on human language.
5.有些名词形式上是复数,意义上是单数,根据意义一致原则动词用单数The chaos was stopped by the police The news is a great encouragement to us A series of debates between the lectures was scheduled for the next weekend.
6.用and 连接的成份表示一个单一概念时候,动词谓语用单数形式Bread and butter is our daily food Time and tide waits for no man《和3同》
二. 谓语用复数情况
1. 由and, both …and, 连接的并列主语,和both ,a few, many ,several 等修饰语后面谓语动词通常用复数形式。Few people know he and I were classmates when we were at college.
2.集体名词police, public, militia, cattle ,class ,youth后常用复数形式的动词The Chinese people are brave and hardworking The cattle are grazing in the sunshine
3.当表示民族的词与冠词合用当主语,谓语动词用复数形式The Japanese were once very aggressive
4.某些形容词前面加定冠词表示一类人,做主语时候,谓语动词用复数The rich are not always selfish
5.不可数名词作主语,其前有表示数量的复数名词修饰时,谓语动词用复数Three million tons of coal were exported that year
三.谓语动词可用单数,也可以用复数的情况
1. 就近一致原则 这种情况下,谓语动词使用单数还是复数取决于最靠近该动词的主语的单复数,存在这种情况的主要由以下几种可能:
1) 由连词 either…or…; neither…nor…; whether… or…;not only…but (also) ;or 等连接的并列主语Neither money nor fame has influence on me Not only you but also he is wrong
2) 在倒装结构中,谓语动词与后面的第一个主语一致Blocking the open-sided porch, framed by the enveloping fog, stands a tall grave-faced policeman. Just outside the ruins is a magnificent building surrounded by tall trees. Although a great number of houses in that area are still in need of repair, there has been improvement in the facili
2. 主语带有(together/along)with, such as, accompanied by, as well as, no less than, except, besides, with, combined with, in addition to , including, together with 等等附加成分,谓语的数不受附加成分的影响仍然与主语保持一致Professor Taylor , with six of his students ,is attending a conference in Boston organized to compare current practice in the United States with those of other nations. The president of the college, together with the deans, is planning a conference for the purpose of laying down certain regulations. (1981年考研题)
3.关系代词做主语的定语从句中,谓语的数要与先行词一致。
如: Despite much research, there are still certain elements in the life cycle of the insect that are not fully understood. (1996年考研题) There are many valuable services which the public are willing to pay for, but which do not bring a return in money to the community. (1990年考研题)