英语语法 单一主语的主谓一致

英语语法单一主语的主谓一致

单一主语的主谓一致

单数的主语跟单数的动词，复数的主语跟复数的动词，这是符合语法一致的原则。但在实际运用中，往往会出现较为复杂的情况：

A．形复意单的名词作主语

形复意单的名词作主语（即形式为复数，意义为单数），按意义一致的原则，用作单数意义时，谓语用单数，反之，谓语用复数。

1. 许多学科名称，如mathematics, physics, economics, politics 等，以及news等名词作主语时，动词用单数。

Physics is required of every student in our school. 物理是我校每个学生的必修科目。

News is traveling fast nowadays. 当今新闻传播得很快。

2. 用作国名、组织机构、书名、报刊名等复数形式的专有名词作为整体对待，谓语用单数。

The United Nations has passed a resolution to lift sanctions against Iraq. 联合国通过了解除对伊制裁的决定。

The Times reports the news of the strike. 时代杂志报导了罢工的消息。

Great Expectations was written by Dickens in 1860. 《远大前程》是狄更斯于1860年写的。

注意：

如果山脉、群岛、瀑布等名称作主语时，谓语动词用复数。

The Great Lakes lie between the USA and Canada. 五大湖在美国和加拿大两国之间。

The Philippines are in the western Pacific Ocean southeast of China. 菲律宾群岛在中国东南太平洋西部。

The Niagara Falls are the falls on the Niagara River. 尼亚加拉瀑布位于尼亚加拉河上。

3. 一些形复意单的名词，包括有成双成套部分的衣物或工具名称，作主语时，谓语用复数。

My blue trousers have been worn out. 我的蓝裤子已经穿破了。

His glasses are new. 他的眼镜是新的。

注意：

这些名词如用a pair of 修饰时，谓语动词用单数。

The shoes are under the bed. 鞋在床下。

The pair of shoes is under the bed. 这双鞋在床下。

4. 单、复数同形名词作主语时，按意义一致的原则，用作单数意义时，谓语用单数；用作复数意义时，谓语用复数。这类名词有：sheep, deer, fish, means, works, species, Chinese, Japanese等。

The (This) glass works was set up in 1986. 这家玻璃厂建于1986年。

The (These) glass works are near the railway station. 这些玻璃厂在火车站附近。

This species of rose is very rare. 这种玫瑰很稀有。

The species of fish are numerous. 鱼的种类很多。

Sheep are raised for wool. 养羊是为了剪毛。

There is a sheep under the tree. 树下有一只绵羊。

比较：

当这类名词前有a, such a, this, that, every修饰时，谓语用单数；有all, such, these, those修饰时，谓语用复数。

Every means has been tried out without much result. 每一种方法都试过了却没什么结果。

All means have been tried out without much result. 所有方法都试过了却没什么结果。

B．集合名词作主语

集合名词表示有若干个体组成的集合体，如army, audience, class, club, company, crowd, government, group, party, population, team, union等。

1. 集合名词作主语时，若表示整体概念，谓语动词用单数，若表示构成该集合体的成员，则谓语动词用复数。

His family are waiting for him. 他的家人正在等他。

But the man's family was small-only himself and his wife. 但那人的家庭很小，只有他本人和妻子。

One third of the population here are workers. 这里人口中有三分之一是工人。

The population of the earth is increasing every year. 地球上的人口每年都在增长。

2. 有些集合名词，如cattle, folk, people, police, youth等，作主语时，谓语动词用复数，即所谓的“形单意复”。

The police have caught the thief. 警察已经抓住了小偷。

The cattle are grazing in the field. 牛在田野里吃草。

Youth today are quite different from 20 years ago. 现在的年轻人和20年前大不一样。

Some folk are never satisfied. 有些人从不知足。