主谓一致是指主语的形式和谓语的形式在数的方面是一致的。比如主语是单数名词the book,那么谓语要用is、was,或者一般动词的第三人称单数形式;如果是the books,那么谓语需要使用are、were 或者一般动词的第三人称复数形式。这个知识点是中学英语中作为重点来强调的,因此应该也是同学们非常熟悉的语法规则。
但是以下几种情况还需要引起重视:
1.当插入语成分将主语和谓语隔开的时候,一定要将插入语成分跳读,以找到真正的主语。
例如:Yellow fever, the disease that killed 4,000 Philadelphians, has reappeared after nearly two decades in abeyance in the Western Hemisphere.
这个句子的主语是yellow fever,中间的the disease that killed 4,000 Philadelphians 是插入语成分,has reappeared 的主语是yellow fever,而不是4,000 Philadelphians,因此根据主谓一致这一语法规则,谓语动词使用的是单数形式。
类似于以下结构,也可以视为插入语成分:
A, with B, …
A, rather than B, …
A, as well as B, …
A, in addition to B, …
A, together with B, …
以上结构的谓语全部取决于A。
但是,
Not only A but also B…
Neither A nor B…
Either A or B…
以上这些结构的谓语取决于B。
2.一些以s 结尾的单数名词需要引起注意。
例如:statistics 做“统计学”来讲时是单数名词,做“统计数据”的时候是复数名词。比如brachiosaurus 是一种恐龙的名称,虽然以s 结尾,但是谓语需要使用单数形式。
3.一些特殊的结构需要引起重视。
例1 : One of the students who are…
The only one of the students who is…
当前面的名词被the only 修饰的时候,谓语动词需要使用单数形式。
例2 : More than one student is…
More students than one are…
如果主语由more than one + 单数名词构成,尽管从意义上看是复数,但谓语动词仍用单数形式;但more + 复数名词+ than one 结构作主语时,谓语动词用复数形式。
例3 : Many a strong man has weakened before such a challenge.
许多坚强的人面对这种困难都动摇了。
many a 意为“许多”,但是后面需要接单数名词以及单数谓语。
例4 : A writer and translator is…
当前面的并列成分指代同一个人时,也需要用单数谓语。这里的writer 和translator 指的是同一个人。
4.each 做主语时使用单数。
例如: Each of the several chief theories has its host of zealous partisans.
这几种主要的理论,每一种都有热烈的拥护者。
主谓一致例题精讲
1. The ideas for songs, games, and skits that fill the Cub Scout Leader’s Guide is invaluable for scout leaders when they try to find creative activities for the children.
(A) is invaluable for scout leaders when they try to find creative activities
(B) are invaluable for scout leaders trying to find creative activities
(C) are those with the invaluable creative activities scout leaders try to find
(D) for scout leaders trying to find creative activities, is invaluable
(E) and which is invaluable for scout leaders trying to find creative activities
解析
这句话的主语是ideas,后面的成分“for songs, games, and skits that fill the Cub Scout Leader’s Guide”全部都是对ideas 的修饰。因此,谓语动词应该用复数形式,原句不对。
D 选项只是将原句顺序打乱,依然用的是单数谓语is,所以是比原句更差的一个选项,应该排除。
E 选项中,and 后面连接的是一个由which 引导的定语从句。我们知道,像and,but,because,so 这样的连词,前后连接的一定要是一个完整的句子,因此E 选项不对。
B 和C 都是复数谓语。但是C 改变了原句的意思,而改进句子的原则是在不改变原句意思的基础上做出改进,因此排除C 选项。
答案为B。
2. Government regulations aimed at encouraging fuel economy requires automakers to produce one fuel-efficient vehicle for every inefficient one.
(A) requires automakers to produce
(B) require automakers to produce
(C) require automaker producing
(D) that requires automaker to produce
(E) are requiring automakers producing
解析
这句话的主语是Government regulations,后面的aimed at encouraging fuel economy 是对Government regulations 的修饰。regulations 为复数,因此不能用单数谓语requires,所以原句不对,排除A。
若用D 选项替换划线部分,原句将没有独立的谓语,因此排除D。
B、C、E 选项都使用了复数谓语动词,但是E 选项用了现在进行时,和原句表达的时态冲突,因此排除E。
另外,“要求某人做某事”的固定用法为require somebody to do something,而不是require somebody doing something,因此答案为B。
3. Smallest of the copperhead snakes, the broad-banded copperhead, if disturbed, vibrates its tail rapidly, and they are also known to secrete a substance that smells like cucumbers.
(A) rapidly, and they are also known to secrete a
(B) rapidly, and it is known that they secrete a
(C) rapidly and is also known to secrete a
(D) rapidly also secreting their
(E) rapidly, in addition, it secretes its
解析
这句话的主语为smallest of the copperhead snakes,“蛇中间最小的一种”,因此是单数主语。the broad-banded copperhead 是对前面主语的补充说明,if disturbed 是插入成分,不影响句子的主干。vibrates its tail rapidly 是谓语和宾语成分,vibrates 是动词的第三人称单。
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