主謂一致指謂語動詞必須在人稱和數(shù)與句子的主語保持一致。在一般現(xiàn)在時態(tài)當中,當主語是第三人稱單數(shù)時,be要用is,have要用has,其他實義動詞要在詞尾加-s或-es,被稱之為謂語的第三人稱單數(shù)形式。
英語中的主謂一致主要有三個原則,即語法一致原則、意義一致原則和就近一致原則。
1.時間、金錢、距離、價格、度量衡等單位名詞作主語
主語是表示時間、距離、價格、度量衡單位等名詞或短語,即使是復(fù)數(shù),謂語動詞也只用第三人稱單數(shù)形式。如:
Three years passes quickly.三年很快過去了。
Ten dollars is enough for the apples.那些蘋果十美元就足夠了。
Two meters is not long enough.兩米不夠長。
2.“pair of,kind of,type of+復(fù)數(shù)名詞”作主語
主語是a pair of,a kind of,a type of,a pile of+名詞時,即使of后的名詞是復(fù)數(shù)形式,但謂語動詞的形式須依照pair,type,kind的數(shù)而確定。如:
This pair of trousers was made by Master Li.這條褲子是李師傅做的。
Look!A pair of glasses is lying on the table.看,一副眼鏡在桌子上。
3.“the number of+名詞”作主語謂語用第三人稱單數(shù)
主語是the number of+名詞的復(fù)數(shù)時,謂語動詞用第三人稱單數(shù)形式。如:
The number of students in our class is seventy-eight.我們班的學(xué)生數(shù)是七十八。
4.population作主語
主語是the population時,謂語動詞用第三人稱單數(shù)形式;主語是分數(shù)+population時,謂語動詞常用復(fù)數(shù)形式。如:
What is the population of your town?你們鎮(zhèn)的人口是多少?
The population of America is a little over two hundred million.美國人口數(shù)大約是兩億多一點。
About eighty percent of the population in our country are farmers.我們國家大約有百分之八十的人口是農(nóng)民。
5.“many a,more than one,a ...or two+名詞”作主語
many a+單數(shù)名詞;more than one+單數(shù)名詞;a+單數(shù)名詞+or two等作句子的主語時,謂語動詞用第三人稱單數(shù)形式。如:
Many a student is interested in English grammar.很多學(xué)生對英語語法感興趣。
A worker or two is going to be sent to work abroad.一兩個工人將被派往國外去工作。
注意:
one or two+名詞復(fù)數(shù)做句子的主語時,謂語動詞用復(fù)數(shù)形式。如:
One or two spelling mistakes have been found in your composition.在你的作文中發(fā)現(xiàn)了一兩個拼寫錯誤。
6.由and連接兩個名詞或代詞作主語的5種情況
①and連接兩個名詞作主語,謂語一般用復(fù)數(shù)形式。如:
Li Lei and Wei Fang are both interested in English.李雷和魏方都對英語感興趣。
He and she are good friends.他跟她是好朋友。
②and 連接兩個成對的名詞,如fork and knife,bread and butter;soda and water;coffee and water;salt and water等,雖由and 連接,但仍表示單一的概念,謂語動詞常用第三人稱單數(shù)形式。如:
Where is your fork and knife ?你的刀叉在哪兒?
Is the bread and butter enough for you two?你們兩人吃這一點面包和黃油夠了嗎?
③and連接的兩個名詞若是指同一個人,即 and前的名詞前有冠詞,而and后面的名詞前沒有冠詞,謂語動詞常用第三人稱單數(shù)形式。如:
I'm told that the monitor and League secretary is ill today.我聽說班長兼團支書今天病了。
④and所連接的兩個名詞前分別有every,each,no,many a等修飾時,謂語動詞用第三人稱單數(shù)形式。如:
Every boy and every girl enjoys themselves in the school.在學(xué)校,每一個男孩和女孩都玩得挺開心。
Many a teacher and many a student has spoken at the meeting.在會上,很多老師和學(xué)生發(fā)了言。
⑤one and a half+名詞復(fù)數(shù)作主語,即名詞的總數(shù)量超過一,但不滿二時,謂語動詞一般用第三人稱單數(shù)形式。如:
One and a half oranges is enough for the baby.一個半桔子對這個嬰兒來說就夠了。
7.“名詞+介詞短語”結(jié)構(gòu)作主語
由介詞with,together with,without,like,except,besides,but,including,in,out of,as well as,no less than,rather than,more than,along with,等所連接的兩個名詞作主語時,謂語動詞的形式應(yīng)與這些介詞前面的名詞的數(shù)保持一致。如:
The mother with her two children is playing in the garden.那位母親與她的兩個孩子正在花園里玩耍。
The teacher together with some students is visiting the factory.老師正與一些學(xué)生一起參觀那個工廠。
No one except his own supporters agrees with him.除了他自己的支持者,沒有人同意他的意見。
The boy along with his classmates has been to the Great Wall twice.那個男孩和他的同學(xué)一起去過長城兩次。
8.“the rest,the rest of+名詞”作主語
表示不定數(shù)量的名詞 the rest作主語時,如果所指為復(fù)數(shù)意義,謂語動詞用復(fù)數(shù);如果所指為單數(shù)意義,謂語動詞用單數(shù);the rest of作主語時,謂語動詞要依據(jù)of后的名詞確定單復(fù)數(shù),of后為可數(shù)名詞復(fù)數(shù)時用復(fù)數(shù),of后為不可數(shù)名詞謂語動詞用單數(shù)。如:
I have read a large part of the book.The rest is more difficult.這本書我已經(jīng)讀了大半,剩下的比較困難。
Three of us will go.The rest are to stay here.我們中的三個人去,其余的人留在這里。
The rest of students have gone home.其余的學(xué)生都回家了。
The rest of the money was stolen.其余的錢被人偷了。