每个句⼦都有动词,所以会牵涉到⼀致性的问题,说⽩了就⼀句话:若主语是第三⼈称单数,动词在现在的时态中要加-s.
⼀、主语是⼀个⼈还是两个⼈(物)
① 对等连接词and的情况
Your brother John has come to see you .
这⼀句中brother和John是同⼀个⼈所以要使⽤单数的动词。
Your brother and John have come to see you.
and连接的两个⼈,⼀个是your brother另外⼀个是John,主语是两个⼈,所以应该⽤复数。⼀般来说,对等连接词and出现在主语中通常表⽰有两个⼈,所以要使⽤复数的形式。但是,The senator and delegate(表⽰同⼀个⼈的两个⾝份,是参议员也是代表,所以要使⽤单数的形式),⽽The senator and the delegate(表⽰的两个⼈,有两处使⽤限定词the就应该使⽤复数的形式)。
② 借助限定词进⾏判断
对于限定词的判断例⼦:
限定词:every
Every man and every woman has to do something for the country.
虽然有两个限定词every,但在这句的意思中every是加强语⽓使⽤的,表⽰不论男⼥,每⼀个⼈。相当于every person,所以要使⽤单数的形式。
⼀句古⽼的谚语也是⼀样的道理:
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.
all和no是同⼀件事的两个⽅⾯,所以也应该⽤单数的形式。⼀般来说,我们分析⼀个句⼦,应该从主要的意思上来看到底说的是什么情况,⽐如:
Bread and butter is is not very tasty but very filling.
这⾥的bread和butter说的是同⼀个物体,奶油⾯包。所以应该⽤is。
Bread and butter have both risen in price.
这⾥说的是bread和butter双双涨价,是当作两个物品来看待的,所以要使⽤have。
⼆、主语是哪⼀个
这⾥主要讨论or、but以及as、than连接的多个主语的情况。
① as
You want to borrow money? But I, as well as you am broke.
我们需要把从句进⾏⼀次还原:
I am broke as well as you are.
第⼆个as就是⽐较级连接词,在从句进⾏简化的时候,可以省略be动词,变成as well as you,在把他往前移动变成了,I as well as you am broke。
② than
I , no less than you, am responsible.
这⼀句的原来句⼦是:I am no less responsible than you are.的简化形式。
③ but:连接词表达的两个部分,⼀个是肯定⼀个是否定,在主语中but相当于排除掉否定部分的内容,所以要同肯定部分⼀致
Everyone but a few complete idiots was able to see that.
要排除掉but连接的a few complete idiots,同表⽰肯定的everyone主语⼀致。
④ or:⼆选⼀,选靠近动词部分的主语
Either my father alone or both my parents are coming.
三、主语中有every、each、either、neither等表⽰“⼀”的单词出现的时候,使⽤单数名词作主语⽤单数动词配合。
Everybody is to report here tomorrow.
Each has to make a five-minute speech.
四、主语是关系代名词时
关系代名词代表的是先⾏词,本⾝没有单复数的变化,主要看它代表的是什么。
I don't trust people who talk too much.
这⾥的who代表的是前⾯的people,由people决定其单复数。
He has three options, which look equally attractive.
这⾥的which代表的是three options,所以要使⽤look。
He has three options, which is a good thing.
这⾥的which代表的是他有三种选择这⼀件事,并说明这是个好事,所以要使⽤is。
五、以度量衡、时间、⾦钱为单位作主语
虽然这些度量单位以复数的形式出现,主语不⼀定要当作复数看。
He makes eighty thousand dollars a year, which is is a lot of money.
⼋万块钱,并不是⼋万个⼀块钱的概念,⽽是当作⼀个整体来砍,所以使⽤is。
六、主语后⾯有介词短语
① ⼀般情况
Mrs.Lindsey, together with her son, is is on a European tour.
⼀般来说介词短语并不影响主语的单复数,所以同主语⼀致。
② 其他例外的情况,主语为空时:
All of these are Lishan pears.
all看不出主语是什么的时候,就要看介词短语来判断,these指⽰的是Lishan pears所以要使⽤are。
All but one of the pears are ripe.
⾸先,all看不出主语是什么,所以看后⾯的介词短语,⽽but将介词短语中的one给否定掉了,只留下了the pears,所以要使⽤are。
③ 区分:
a number代表的是某个数量的……,是若⼲个,所以要⽤复数。the number代表的是that number,指的是⼀个具体的数字,所以要⽤单数。a pair of ……如果主语是a pair就是one pair所以是单数。
六、集合名词
集合名词形如:staff、faculty、family、police、committee、crew等,表⽰⼀个集体的时候,要⽤单数,⽽不加-s表⽰具体单位内的成员时,要⽤复数动词。
The committee is five years old.
显然这⾥的committee代指的是⼀个具体的委员,所以要使⽤is。
The committee are mostly Republican politicians.
这⾥的committee代指的是⼤多数委员,所以要使⽤复数的动词are。
七、⼀些以s结尾的名词
名词词尾的s不⼀定就代表复数,通常代表学科、疾病的字眼就是-s结尾的名词。
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