辨析中学英语主语和谓语的一致关系,本文主要内容关键词为:谓语论文,主语论文,中学英语论文,关系论文,此文献不代表本站观点,内容供学术参考,文章仅供参考阅读下载。
在中学英语教学和高考英语复习中,辨析清楚英语主语和谓语的一致关系,通常是教师和学生难解的问题。笔者依据多年的教学实践,阐释并辨析英语主语和谓语的一致关系。一个句子中的谓语动词必须与其主语的人称、数的形式保持一致关系。也就是说,英语句子中,主语的“人称”和“数”要限制、决定谓语动词的形式变化,这就叫“主谓一致”关系。它通常依据三项原则:语法一致、意义一致、就近一致。
一、语法一致原则
(一)主语的“人称”决定谓语动词的形式
e.g.I love/she loves music.我/她爱好音乐。
(二)主语的“数”决定谓语动词的形式
1.“不可数名词、可数名词单词、单数代词、不定式(短语)、动名词(短语)”或“从句”等作主语,用单数谓语形式。e.g.
①The work is important.这项工作重要。
②To serve the country is our duty.为祖国服务是我们的义务。
③How and why he left was a sad story.他离开的经过和原因是一段伤心的经历。
2.复数的名词、代词一般接复数谓语形式。e.g.
①The children are taken good care of.孩子们得到很好的照料。
②They have gone to Chengdu.他们去成都了。
(三)以“and”或“both...and”连接的并列主语
1.通常作复数用。由and连接两个名词作主语时,表示不同的人或事物,句中的谓语动词一般要用复数形式。e.g.
①Plastics and rubber never rot.塑料和橡胶从不腐烂。
②What he says and what he does do not agree.他言行不一致。
③Both Tom and I are fond of medicine.我和汤姆都喜欢医学。
2.如果并列主语指的是“同一个”人(事、物、抽象概念),作单数用。当and连接两个名词指同一个人,同一件事或者同一概念时,and后面的名词前没有冠词,其谓语动词用单数形式。e.g.
①The worker and writer has come.这位工人作家来了。
②A cart and horse was seen in the distance.远处能看见有一套马车。
③Truth and honesty is the best policy.真诚是最好的策略。常见的由and连接两个名词指一个概念的形式有“the needle and thread,salt and water,coffee and milk,the fork and knife,soap and water,iron and steel”等。
如果and后面加not,谓语动词用单数形式。e.g.
①My friend,and not I,is chosen to make a speech.我的朋友而不是我被选作报告。
②Tom,and not Mike,is going to visit New York City.汤姆而不是我要去访问纽约市。
3.“and”前、后的单数词语都有“each,every,many a,no”等修饰时,仍作单数用。e.g.
①Each actor and actress was invited.每个男演员和女演员都被邀请了。
②Every boy and every girl enjoys equal rights here.这里每个男孩和每个女孩都享有平等权益。
③No teacher and no student is excused from taking part in the activity.没有哪个教师或学生可以免于参加这项活动。
注1:在上边以each,every,no修饰的并列主语中的两个名词前都不能加冠词。
注2:each可以放在由and连接两个名词构成复数主语的后面作同位语,此时谓语动词不会受each的影响,仍然用复数形式。e.g.
The boy and the girl each have their own toys.男孩和女孩每人都有自己的玩具。
The driver and his passenger each were fined five dollars.司机和乘客每人罚五美元。
(四)主语加表示“数、量”等修饰语时
1.a)“many a+单数名词”接单数谓语。以many a短语修饰单数名词,在句中作主语时,后面的谓语动词用单数形式,尽管它表示的概念是复数。e.g.
①Many a fine man has died for it.许多优秀战士为此献出了生命。
“a good/great many+复数名词”接复数谓语。e.g.
②A great many parents were present at the meeting.许多家长出席了会议。
b)“a/an+单数名词+or two”大多接单数谓语。e.g.
①Only a word or two is(are)needed.只需说一两句。
“one or two+复数名词”接复数谓语。e.g.
②One or two reasons were suggested.提出一两条理由。
c)“a/an+单数名词+and a half”常接单数谓语。e.g.
①A year and a half has passed.一年半已过去了。
“one and a half+复数名词”多接复数谓语。e.g.
②One and a half tons of rice are sold.已卖了一吨大米。
d)“more than one+单数名词”大多接单数谓语。e.g.
①More than one person was(were)absent.不止一个人缺席。
“more+复数名词+than one”接复数谓语。e.g.
②More students than one have been there.不止一个学生去过那儿。
“more than two(three,…)+复数名词”接复数谓语。e.g.
③More than one hundred students have attended the concert.不止一百名学生听了这场音乐会。
2.主语前面加表示“单位、度量”的短语如“a kind(sort/type/form/pair/cup/glass/piece/load/block/box/handful/quantity/ton/metre…)of”等时,表示“单位、度量”的这个名词的单复数决定谓语形式。e.g.
a)①There is only a small quantity of paper(books)left.只剩下少量的纸(书)了。
②Large quantities of water are needed.需要大量的水。
b)①This kind of apple is sweet.这种苹果甜。
②This kind of apples is(are)sweet.(大多依kind,作单数用)
③These kinds of apples are sweet.(总作复数用)
但:Apples of this kind are sweet.(总作复数用)
3.主语后接“with…”等构成的短语修饰成分或插入语时,谓语仍须与这类短语前的“主语”一致。这些修饰和插入成分有“with,along with,together with,as well as,but,besides,except,added to,including,like,no less than,rather than,more than,accompanied by,as much as,in addition to”等。e.g.
①A woman with two children has come.一位妇女带着两个孩子来了。
②I as well as they am ready to help you.不仅他们,我也愿帮助你。
4.“one+of+复数名词+谓语”是一固定结构。这个结构中的谓语动词用单数形式。e.g.
One of the boys has completed his work.其中一个男孩已完成了工作。
但是,在“one of+复数名词+定语从句”句型中,定语从句中的谓语动词要用复数。定语从句的先行词通常是这个“复数名词”,因此从句的谓语用复数形式。e.g.
①This is one of the best novels that have appeared this year.这是今年出版的最佳小说之一。(关系词“that”代“novels”)
②He was one of the boys who were praised.他是受表扬的男孩之一。
如果“one”前加“this,the,the only”等时,定语从句的关系词指代“one,作从句主语时,接单数谓语。”e.g.
He was the only one of the boys who was praised.他是男孩中唯一受到表扬的。(关系词who代the only one)
二、意义一致原则
(一)集合名词作主语时
1.有些通常作复数用(不变词形)。如“people,police,cattle(牛、牲口),folk,youth,militia(民兵)”等。e.g.
The police have caught the murderer.警方已捕获凶手。
2.有些指“整体”时作单数,指其中的“成员”时作复数(不变词形)。如“army,audience(听众),class,club,company,committee(委员会),crew,crowd staff(员工),family,public,government,group,party,union,couple,population,team”等。e.g.
①Our family is a happy one.我们有个幸福的家。
②The family are early risers.这家人都起得早。
③The public are(is)requested not to litter.请公众不要乱扔废弃物。
但上述集合名词也可有复数形式,如“many families,two classes”等。有些变复数形式后意义不同,如“peoples多个民族,youths男青年,folks亲友”。
(二)代词作主语时
1.不定代词“each,one,much,(a)little,either,neither,another,the other(+单数名词)”等常作单数用。它们所修饰的主语也作单数。e.g.
①Each of the girls(Each girl)has a new hat.每个女孩都有顶新帽子。
②Neither plan suits me.
但:Neither of the plans suits/suit me.两个计划都不适合我。
2.下列复合不定代词一般作单数用:“somebody,something,anybody,anyone,anything,everybody,everything,nobody,no one,nothing”等。e.g.
①Is everybody here?都到齐了吗?
②There was nothing special then.那时没什么特别情况。
3.下列不定代词作复数用:“(a)few,many,several,both”等。e.g.
①Few(of the guests)were familiar to us.没有几个(客人)是我们熟识的。
②Both/Both(of)these films are interesting.两部影片都有趣。
4.下列代词需视其“具体所指”来决定单、复数:
a)“what,which,who,whose”等。e.g.
①Who is your brother?你兄弟是谁?
②Who are league members.哪些是团员?
b)“all,some,more,most,any,none,a lot(of),lots(of)”等。e.g.
①All(of the students)are working hard.(所有的学生)都在用功。
②All(of the paint)is fine.(这些油漆)都很好。
c)“half(of),plenty(of),the rest(of),(a)part(of),the remainder(of)(余下的)”等。e.g.
①Half of the apples are bad.苹果中有一半是坏的。
②Half of the apple is bad.这只苹果坏了一半。
(三)“数词”、“数量、单位”等词语作主语时
1.表示“运算”的数词通常作单数。e.g.
Ten times four makes/make forty.十乘以四得四十。
2.表示“时间、距离、金额、度量衡”等的词语,作“整体”看时作单数用,侧重指“若干单位”时作复数用。e.g.
①Twenty years is not so long time.二十年光阴,弹指一挥间。
②Twenty years have passed since he left.他离开已二十个年头了。
3.“分数、百分数”通常依其“具体所指”来决定单、复数。e.g.
①About 40 percent/two-fifths of the books here are(is)worth reading.这些书中百分之四十/五分之二值得读。
②Only sixty percent/three-fifths of the work was done yesterday.昨天只干完了百分之六十/五分之三的工作。
4.“a number of(许多)/a variety of(各种各样)”+复数名词,常作复数用。e.g.
①A number of students in this class are(is)from Sichuan.这个班有不少同学来自四川。
②There are a variety of toys in this shop.这家商店有各种各样的玩具。
但是,“the number(数目)/the variety(种类)”+of+复数名词,作单数。e.g.
①The number of students in this college has doubled.这所大学的学生人数翻了一番。
②The variety of goods in this shop is rich.这家商店货物品种丰富。
(四)单、复数同形或易混的词作主语时
1.以“-ics”结尾的学科名词:指教育、科研的某一学科,作单数。e.g.
Mathematics seems easy to me.我似乎觉得数学不难。
但是,表示“具体的学业、活动”等时,多用作复数。e.g.
①Her mathematics are weak.她数学差。(指“学生成绩、能力”)
②What are your politics?你的政治观点如何?
2.“works工厂,means方法,series系列,species物种,aircraft飞机”等名词单、复数同形、要以上下文判断其具体意义来决定单、复数。e.g.
①This works was(These works were)built two years ago.这(几)家工厂是两年前修建的。
②Every means has(All means have)been tried.各种办法都试过了。
这类名词通常还有“fish,deer,sheep,headquarters(总部驻地),bellows(风箱),plastics,gallows(绞架),manners(礼貌),whereabouts(行踪)”等。但,news(消息)是不可数名词,通常只作单数用。
(五)“the+形容词/分词”作主语时
1.指“一类”人或事物时,常作复数用。e.g.
①The English speak English.英国人讲英语。
②The rejected were heaped in the corner.废品堆在角落里。
2.指“某一个”人,或“抽象的”事物时,作单数用。e.g.
①The deceased was his father.去世的是他父亲。
②The agreeable is not always the useful.好看的不一定中用。
(六)专用名词作主语时
1.“书名、剧务、报刊名、国家名”等通常作单数用。e.g.
①The United States was founded in 1776.美国成立于1776年。
②The Arabian Nights is very interesting.《天方夜谭》很有趣。
2.“书刊名”有时作单数或复数均可,尤其是编成集子的书。e.g.
Dickens’American Notes were(was)published in 1842.狄更斯所著的《美国笔记》出版于1842年。
(七)“What等引导的从句”作主语时
1.大多作单数用。e.g.
①What we need is more practice.我们需要的是更多的实践。
②What he says does not agree with what he does.他言行不一致。
2.若从句是含复数意义的并列结构,或“表语”是复数时,谓语动词用单数或复数均可。e.g.
①What you say and think is/are no business of mine.你怎么说以及怎么想,不关我的事。
②What he bought was/were some books.他所买的是几本书。
三、就近一致原则
也称“邻近原则”,即:谓语与靠近的名词、代词(有时不一定是主语)在“人称、数”上一致。
(一)正式文体中
1.由下列词语连接的并列主语:“or;either…or;nor;neither…nor;whether...or:not…but;not only…but also”等。e.g.
①What he does or what he says does not concern me.他的行为或言谈都与我无关。
②Neither you nor I am wrong.你和我都没错。
2.在倒装句中,谓语可与后面第一个主语一致。e.g.
①In the distance was heard the clapping of hands and the shouts of the people.在远处,能听见鼓掌声和人们的呼喊声。
②There is(are)a pen and some books on the desk.桌上有一支钢笔和几本书。
(二)非正式文体中
1.有时依“就近一致原则”,但也可依“意义一致原则”,或严格地依“语法一致原则”。e.g.
①Neither she nor I were there.(意义一致)我和他当时都不在那儿。(非正式)
②Neither she nor I was there.(就近一致)我和他当时都不在那儿。(正式)
2.但是,如果依“就近一致原则”而与其他两项原则相矛盾时,则常常认为是不太合符规范的。e.g.
No one except his own supporters agree with him.仅他自己的支持者同意他的意见。(依“就近”和“意义”一致的原则;但语法上,“No one”才是主语,谓语要改成“agrees”。“写作中”一般要依“语法一致”原则)