主语与谓语动词在数和人称上的统一性规则
主语与谓语动词在数和人称上的统一性,是语言表达准确性的重要体现。这一原则主要依据以下三个方面的规则进行应用:
1. 语法形式统一原则:主语与谓语动词在语法形式上必须保持一致。当主语采用单数形式时,谓语动词应使用第三人称单数形式;当主语为复数形式时,谓语动词则需采用复数形式。
2. 语义决定原则:谓语动词的单复数形式应根据主语的实际意义来确定。当主语在语法形式上为单数,但实际意义为复数时,谓语应使用复数形式;反之,当主语在语法形式上为复数,但实际意义为单数时,谓语应使用单数形式。
3. 临近原则:谓语动词的形式应与离它最近的主语在数和人称上保持一致。即谓语动词的单复数形式取决于最邻近的主语的单复数形式。
主谓一致的具体应用场景
1. 名词作为主语时的处理方式
(1)集体性名词作为主语时,如果强调的是整体概念,谓语动词应使用单数形式;如果强调的是个体成员,则谓语动词应使用复数形式。常见的这类集体性名词包括army(军队)、audience(观众)、class(班级)、family(家庭)、team(团队)、crowd(人群)、staff(职员)、government(政府)、enemy(敌人)、committee(委员会)等。部分集体性名词如cattle(牛群)、people(人们)、police(警察)等,通常被视为复数名词,其谓语动词必须使用复数形式。例如:
The army has successfully advanced to the river.
The team are traveling to the game in their own vehicles.
The police have been conducting a thorough search for Tom for several years.
(2)单复数形式相同的名词作为主语时,应根据其具体意义来确定谓语动词的形式。例如:
The only means of communication between them was sign language.
All possible means have been exhausted.
(3)表示单一概念的复数形式名词(如学科名称、机构名称、书名、剧名等)作为主语时,谓语动词通常使用单数形式。例如:
Statistics remains a fundamental course at the business college.
General Motors manufactures various types of vehicles.
(4)对于trousers(裤子)、shoes(鞋子)、chopsticks(筷子)、sunglasses(太阳镜)等名词作为主语时,谓语动词通常使用复数形式;但如果这些名词前有a pair of(一对)、a kind of(一种)等限定词时,谓语动词则通常使用单数形式。例如:
These trousers are slightly too large.
A pair of trousers is sufficient for one person.
(5)当名词短语的中心词为表示距离、金额、时间等概念的复数名词时,这些复数名词通常被视为一个整体,谓语动词应使用单数形式。例如:
Seven kilometers were covered within two hours.
Two hundred dollars represents a significant amount to me.
Ten minutes were allocated for preparing the response.
(6)“more than one / many a +单数名词”作为主语时,谓语动词通常使用单数形式;“more +复数名词+ than one”作为主语时,谓语动词通常使用复数形式。例如:
More than one individual has been involved in this matter.
Many a student has witnessed the film.
More boxes than one have been utilized at the station.
(7)“分数或百分数+ of +名词”构成的短语作为主语时,谓语动词的单复数形式取决于of后面的名词的数。例如:
Only one third of the homework was completed yesterday.
Three fourths of the students arrive at school on time every day.
2. 代词作为主语时的处理方式
(1)代词each、either、neither、another以及复合不定代词作为主语时,谓语动词应使用单数形式。例如:
Each student possesses a dictionary in our class.
Anyone who exceeds the age of sixteen is permitted entry.
(2)关系代词who、that、which等在定语从句中作为主语时,谓语动词的数应与先行词的数保持一致。例如:
Don’t you recognize the individuals who reside next door?(先行词是people)
My wife, who is currently外出, will contact you as soon as she returns.(先行词是My wife)
(3)all(所有)、most(大多数)、none(没有一个)、some(一些)等作为主语时,谓语动词的形式应根据它们所替代的内容来确定。例如:
All who have studied this issue have reached the same conclusion.
None is more competent for the task than he.
3. 由连接词连接的名词或代词作为主语时的处理方式
(1)由and或both … and …连接的并列主语,如果表示复数意义,谓语动词通常使用复数形式。但当and不表示并列意义,而是连接两个在意义上表示同一人、物、概念或由两个部件组成的物品时,谓语动词则应使用单数形式。例如:
Both Michael and James possess red hair.
The writer and journalist has delivered a lecture to us.
There is a watch and chain placed on the table.(带链的表)
(2)当主语后跟有说明主语的修饰语,如由with、but、as well as、along with、rather than、together with、including、in addition to等引导的短语时,谓语动词的人称和数应与主语保持一致。例如:
The professor, accompanied by his students, is dining here tonight.
(3)由or、either … or …, neither … nor …, not only … but also …等连接的名词或代词作为主语时,谓语动词的人称和数应与最近的主语保持一致。例如:
Either his brother or his friends are mistaken.
Not only I but also my sister enjoys reading.
4. 从句及非谓语动词作为主语时的处理方式
(1)名词性从句作为主语时,谓语动词通常使用单数形式。但如果是两个或两个以上的从句由and连接表示两个独立概念时,谓语动词应使用复数形式。此外,what从句作为主语时,谓语动词的数应根据其表达的意义来确定。例如:
Whether it constitutes a good plan or not remains a subject for debate.
What has triggered the snow slide and how many tourists have been injured are still uncertain.
What I initially sought to determine was the duration it would take.
You need not acquire additional stamps. What we currently possess is adequate.
(2)动词-ing形式短语或不定式短语作为主语时,谓语动词通常使用单数形式。例如:
Operating a vehicle during peak hours can be exhausting.
To comprehend science entails mastering the laws of nature.
与高考的关联性分析
使用适当的be动词形式完成下列句子。
1. While maintaining a regular exercise routine cannot extend one’s lifespan indefinitely, the review indicates it proves more effective over time in prolonging life compared to walking, cycling, or swimming.
2. Fast food typically contains excessive amounts of fat and salt; individuals who consume more fast food are likely to ingest more salt and fat than their dietary requirements.
3. Delegating less important tasks to the following day is often a reasonable approach.
4. Confucius believed that knives might serve as reminders of violence and were too brutal for use at dining tables.
5. Yangshuo is exceptionally picturesque. A study of travelers conducted by the website TripAdvisor has recognized Yangshuo as one of the top 10 destinations globally.