一.就近原則
1. 由並列結構或連詞(either…or, neither…nor,not…but, not only…but also, or等)連接的並列主語,謂語動詞與較近的那個名詞或代詞保持一致。
Neither his parents nor Tom_____(be) at home.
2. 在倒裝句和there be句型中,謂語動詞與後面的第一個主語保持一致。
There _____(be) a book and some pens on the desk.
There ______(come) the bus.
3. 在定語從句中,關係代詞作主語,其謂語動詞應與它所指代的先行詞保持一致。
I know the man who_____(be) talking to my father.
4. 在強調句中,連接代詞又在句中作主語,這時它應與被強調的主語保持一致。
It is Mary’s brother who_____(be) injured in the car accident yesterday.
二.意義一致原則
1. 當主語與謂語動詞之間插入along with,with,as well as,together with, besides,except, but, including等短語時,謂語動詞與第一個主語保持一致。
I along with my sister_____(be) going to Shanghai next month.
2. 由“what”引導的名詞性從句作主語時,謂語動詞通常用單數形式。
What I want to say _____(be) just “ Take care!”.
3. “…+ (of) +名詞”作主語時,若“of”後的名詞為單數(不可數名詞),則謂語動詞用單數,如果名詞為複數,則謂語動詞用複數。
Most of the water here ______(be) clean.
80% of cotton ______(have) been sent to America.
Half of the apples ______(be) red.
4. 詞組“a number of”作主語時,謂語動詞應用複數;“the number of”作主語時,謂語動詞用單數。
A number of ancient buildings _____ (be) destroyed in the war.
The number of the visitors _____ (have) decreased this year.
5. 英語的集體名詞(family, public, group, team, class等詞),指代“整體”時為單數;指代“其中的各成員”則為複數。
My family ____(be) very poor when I was a little girl.
My family ______(be) all looking forward for your coming.
三.整體原則
1. 從句、不定式、動名詞等作主語時謂語動詞用單數。
When to leave _____(have) not been decided.
Watching TV too much _____(be) bad for your eyes.
注:如果主語是兩個(或兩個以上)的名詞性從句,謂語動詞常用複數。
What he said and what he did _____(be) always different last night .
2. 如果兩個以上的名詞組成一個整體概念作主語時,謂語動詞須用單數。
The novelist and poet _____(be) going to Europe next year.
The novelist and the poet_____(be) going to Europe next year.
3. 表示時間、距離、金額、度量等詞語作主語時,通常被視作整體,謂語動詞用單數。
10 minutes_____(be)enough.
4. 加減乘除等數學運算謂語動詞通常用單數。
2 and 3 ______5.
5.“the +姓氏名詞的複數”表示“一家人、….夫婦”,作主語時,謂語動詞用複數形式。
The Blacks ______(enjoy) working in China.
四.個體原則
1. every +….and every +…..或each+…and each +…作主語時,謂語動詞用單數形式。
Every man and every woman _____(be) busy at working.
2. 英語句中的each, either, neither等詞,作代詞充當主語,修飾名詞作主語時,謂語動詞用單數。
Neither of us _____(have) been abroad. Neither answer _____(be) wrong.
3. 由some, any every, no構成的複合詞(somebody,nobody,everything,anything等)作主語時,謂語動詞用單數。
Somebody ______(be)waiting for you at the school gate.
4. 成雙成對出現的複數名詞(glasses,shoes,trousers,pants,gloves等)作主語時,通常謂語動詞用複數,但前面有a /the pair of;a /the suit of等詞語時,則謂語動詞要與量詞(pair, suit, piece )在單複數上保持一致。
A pair of scissors_______(be) useful tool for a dressmaker.
Two pieces of paper ______(be ) on the desk.
5. 以複數形式出現,卻表示單數意義(maths, physics, news …)謂語用單數。
Maths_____(be) my favorite subject.
6.“the +形容詞(old /young /rich /poor )”表示“一類人”,作主語時,謂語用複數。
The young ______(like) listening to popular songs.
7.“the +姓氏的複數” 表示“某某夫婦,某某一家人”,作主語時,謂語用複數。
The Greens _______(be)having lunch now.
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