语法一致原则 是指句子的谓语动词要同句子的主语在语法形式上保持一致,也就是说句子谓语动词的数取决于该句子主语的数,即单数主语需用单数动词,复数主语需用复数动词。如:She usually goes to school by bike.My parents are both teachers.
通过下列几点,我们可以进一步加深对该原则的理解。
1.“the+姓氏名词的复数形式”表示“某某夫妇”或“某某一家人”,作主语时,谓语动词用复数形式。如:
The Greens are having lunch now.
2.主语前若加了all, some, half, enough等形容词或two thirds (2/3)等分数词修饰时,谓语动词的数由名词类别和数量而定:若为复数可数名词,谓语动词用复数形式,若为单数可数名词或不可数名词,谓语动词用单数形式。如:
All of the bread smells terrible.
All of the boys were late for school yesterday.Two thirds of the students in our class are girls.Four fifths of the ground is covered with snow.
3.一些有成双部分的衣物名词或工具名词如: glasses, trousers, gloves, shoes, scissors等作主语,谓语动词用复数形式。若用了pair等计量单位名词修饰,谓语动词的形式由pair等词的单复数形式决定。如:
My trousers are old, I want to buy a new pair.
A pair of new shoes is given to me as a present by my father.
Here are some new pairs of shoes.
意义一致原则 是从意义上着眼处理主谓一致关系。谓语动词的单、
复数形式,取决于主语所表达的概念,而不取决于表面的语法标志。可以从以下几点来加深理解:
1.单数形式,复数意义,如:people, police等。如:
The police are running after the thief.
2.复数形式,单数意义,如:news, physics, maths, politics等。如 he good news makes us happy.
Physics is an important subject.
3.一些集合名词,如:class, family, team, Chinese, Japanese等作主语,当它们强调总体时,表示单数;强调个体时,表示复数。如:
The class has 45 students.
The class are planting trees on the hill.
I’m a Chinese.
The Chinese are a hard-working people.
4.表示时间、距离、金钱、重量等名词的复数作主语时常看成一个整体,谓语动词用单数形式。如:
Ten days is a long time.200 kilometres is not a short way.
5.“the+形容词”表示“具有某特征的一类人”,作主语时,谓语动词用复数形式。如:
The rich have much money.
They should help the poor.
6.由and或both...and...连接的并列成分作主语时,谓语动词用复数形式。如:
John and Mike are good at playing football.
Both bread and milk are good for your health.
7.主语前若加了one of, each of, none of, either of, neither of等修饰成分时,句子主语强调个体,谓语动词用单数形式。如:
One of the most popular subjects in our class is English.
Each of the houses is full of people.8.a number of之后接可数名词的复数形式,意思为“大量的”,作句子主语时,谓语动词用复数形式;the number of后接可数名词的复数形式,意思为“……的数量”,作句子主语时,谓语动词用单数形式。如:
A number of students are playing on the playground.
The number of the students in that school is more than 1,800.
9.and连接的并列主语有时指同一人或物,有时指不同的人或物,两种情况的谓语动词形式是不一样的。如:
The writer and the speaker are from the USA.
那位作家和那位演说家来自美国。
The writer and speaker is from the USA.
那位作家兼演说家来自美国。
就近一致原则 是指谓语动词的数要与它紧邻的名词或代词的数保持一致。可以通过以下两点加以概括:
1.由or,either...or,neither...nor,not only...but also...,not...but...等连接的并列主语,谓语动词的形式要根据与谓语最近的主语来确定。如:
Are you or he good at swimming?
Either you or your brother has to go there right now.
Neither she nor I am a teacher.
Not only I but also he wants to go swimming in the river.
2.There be句式中若有几个并列成分充当主语时,谓语动词的形式由第一个并列成分决定。如:
There is an apple and some oranges on the table.
There are some oranges and an apple on the table.