(3)Subjectverb Concord(2)

1、 Subject-Verb Concord (2) Lecture Three3.1 Problems of concord with a coordinate subject(并列主語(yǔ)并列主語(yǔ)) Coordination by and or bothand is treat- ed as plural when it refers to two persons or things. e.g.: Fire and water do not agree. Peter and Bob are deadly rivals. Both Sophia and I are English majors.

2、Both London and Linyi have traffic problems. 1) Coordination with and / bothand Coordination by and is treated as singular when it refers to only one person or thing.His warmest admirer and severest critic was his wife.My colleague and former college friend is near deaths door.The premier and foreig

3、n minister was present at the meeting.The League secretary and monitor was asked to make a speech at the meeting. A. The two nouns refer to one person: 通常由兩個(gè)部件配成的物品, 如: a knife and fork, a cup and saucer, a cart and horse, a watch and chain, a needle and thread, a pipe and pouch等, 也視為單數(shù)：e.g.: A cart

4、 and horse was seen in the distance. There is a needle and thread on the floor. 表示食品、飲料等: “以涂抹”、“和. 拼盤”、“兌”等意思, 應(yīng)視為單數(shù)。如: bread and butter, salt and water, fish and chips, a roll and cheese, etc.e.g.: Whisky and soda is always my favorite drink. Bread and butter is fattening. Bread and butter are ser

5、ved.B. The two nouns refer to one thing:C. The two nouns refer to the same idea 兩個(gè)部分密不可分, 視為單數(shù)。例如: war and peace, law and order (治安), time and tide (歲月), cause and effect (因果), the sum and substance (要點(diǎn)), the number and diversity (種類), the ebb and flow (盛衰)等。e.g.: Time and tide waits for no man. Law

6、 and order is vital to a country. The hammer and sickle was flying from a tall flagpole. Our aim and end is to realize an ideal communist society.l Ancient and modern history are the subjects we are studying.l American and Dutch beer are both much lighter than British beer.l The Chinese and Japanese

7、 language have some-thing in common.l The food and textile industry depend mainly on agriculture for raw material.一個(gè)單數(shù)一個(gè)單數(shù)( (或不可數(shù)或不可數(shù)) )名詞同時(shí)被兩個(gè)不同的詞名詞同時(shí)被兩個(gè)不同的詞修飾修飾, ,用以表示兩個(gè)不同的事物時(shí)用以表示兩個(gè)不同的事物時(shí), ,謂語(yǔ)動(dòng)詞一般謂語(yǔ)動(dòng)詞一般用復(fù)數(shù)形式。如用復(fù)數(shù)形式。如: : 如果所指為單數(shù)概念如果所指為單數(shù)概念, , 指同一個(gè)人或事物時(shí)指同一個(gè)人或事物時(shí), , 謂謂語(yǔ)動(dòng)詞用單數(shù)。如語(yǔ)動(dòng)詞用單數(shù)。如: :uThe steel an

8、d iron industry plays an important role in national economy.uSimple and plain living is a fine quality. The tenth and the last chapter are written by a Smith. The white and the black kitten were trembling in the cold. 由由“and and 連接兩個(gè)帶定冠詞的前置修飾語(yǔ)連接兩個(gè)帶定冠詞的前置修飾語(yǔ) + + 單數(shù)名詞單數(shù)名詞” ” 作主語(yǔ)表示復(fù)數(shù)概念時(shí)作主語(yǔ)表示復(fù)數(shù)概念時(shí), ,用復(fù)數(shù)

9、形用復(fù)數(shù)形式的謂語(yǔ)動(dòng)詞。式的謂語(yǔ)動(dòng)詞。The tenth and last chapter is written by a Smith.The white and black kitten was trembling in the cold.當(dāng)當(dāng) andand 連接的并列名詞詞組帶有連接的并列名詞詞組帶有each, every, no, 等限定詞等限定詞, ,構(gòu)成構(gòu)成 noand nonoand no, ,eachand each, everyand every 意義上仍為單數(shù)意義上仍為單數(shù), ,隨后的動(dòng)詞隨后的動(dòng)詞通常用單數(shù)通常用單數(shù)。如。如： Each man and each woman

10、 is asked to help.Every book and every paper was in proper place.No fly and no mosquito has been found in that hotel.I, not you, am the right man to carry out the experiment.The parents, and not the son, were missing.Not the students but she was wrong.Not you but your father is to blame. 兩個(gè)主語(yǔ)，一個(gè)肯定，另

11、一個(gè)否定，謂語(yǔ)動(dòng)詞兩個(gè)主語(yǔ)，一個(gè)肯定，另一個(gè)否定，謂語(yǔ)動(dòng)詞的數(shù)與肯定主語(yǔ)一致。如的數(shù)與肯定主語(yǔ)一致。如: :2) Coordination with “or/ nor/ eitheror/ not onlybut also/ neithernor” Here we should follow the principle of proximity.e.g.: Either fans or an air-conditioner is necessary for this laboratory. Not only the students but also their teacher has par

12、ticipated in the game. Not only the teacher but (also) his students have participated in the game.* But in informal style, items coordinated by “not only but also” or “neithernor”, can sometimes be regarded as plural. 3), 4) subject + with / as much as 等等: 當(dāng)主語(yǔ)后帶有以介詞當(dāng)主語(yǔ)后帶有以介詞/ 連詞等引導(dǎo)的從屬結(jié)構(gòu)時(shí)連詞等引導(dǎo)的從屬結(jié)構(gòu)時(shí),

13、 其其后的動(dòng)詞形式取決于主語(yǔ)本身的形式后的動(dòng)詞形式取決于主語(yǔ)本身的形式, 這些從屬結(jié)這些從屬結(jié)構(gòu)對(duì)主謂一致不起作用構(gòu)對(duì)主謂一致不起作用。其中包括其中包括: besides, like, with, but, except, along with, together with, in addition to, as well as (和, 也, 連同), no less than (不亞于), as much as (幾乎等于), more than (比更), rather than (而不是)等。如：uThe pilot as well as two of the passengers ha

14、s escaped death.uJohn, rather than his brothers, was responsible for the loss.uThe teacher together with his students wants to go on an autumn outing. 但在非正式文體中,即使主語(yǔ)為單數(shù)形式,謂語(yǔ)間或也可以用復(fù)數(shù)形式, 特別是由with, along with, as well as, together with等介詞引起的從屬結(jié)構(gòu)句中。3.2 Problems of concord with expressions of quantity as

15、subject A) When a definite quantity is regarded as a singular unit, the verb takes the singular form. 1) Concord with expression of definite quantity as subjecte.g.: Fifteen miles seems like a long walk to me. Ten dollars is not enough. Sixty pounds is all she weighs. When a definite quantity is use

16、d in the sense of the individuals, the verb takes the plural form. e.g.: The first two months were quite successful. Twenty years have passed since we parted. Five miles have been added to the highway. B) If the subject is “a fraction/ percentage + of-phrase”, the form of the verb is determined by t

17、he noun in the of-phrase. A plural noun in the of-phrase requires a plural verb; a singular or a mass noun in the of-phrase is to be followed by a singular verb. e.g.: A quarter of the students in our class are girls. Two-thirds of the people present are against the plan. Ninety percent of the work

18、has been done. Three-fourths of the surface of the earth is covered by water. C)主語(yǔ)由 “one of/ one out of / one in +復(fù)數(shù)名詞”構(gòu)成, 在正式語(yǔ)體中, 動(dòng)詞用單數(shù); 在非正式語(yǔ)體中,動(dòng)詞可按就近原則用復(fù)數(shù)。 e.g.: One of five machines is defective. One out of twenty was badly damaged. One in ten was killed in the war. Only one out of ten was immun

19、e to the disease. It is estimated that one in every three men there has given up smoking.D) If the subject is an expression of “ A plus/and B”, or “A multiplied by B”, the verb can either take the singular or the plural form. If, on the other hand, the subject is one of “ A minus B” or “ A divided b

20、y B”, the verb can only be singular. e.g.: 4+8=12 Four and/plus eight are/is twelve. Four and/plus eight make/makes twelve. 4x3=12 Four multiplied by three are/is twelve. Three times four is/are twelve. 12-8=4 Twelve minus eight leaves/is four. Eight from twelve leaves/is four. 123=4 Twelve divided

21、by three is/gives four.2) Concord with expressions of indefinite quantity as subject The rest of the time was spent swimming. The rest of the bicycles are on sale today.A) 當(dāng)名詞詞組中心詞是當(dāng)名詞詞組中心詞是 some (of), half (of), (the) most (of), the majority (of), the last (of), the rest (of), the remainder (of) 時(shí)時(shí)

22、, 動(dòng)詞的單復(fù)數(shù)取決于動(dòng)詞的單復(fù)數(shù)取決于of 后面的名詞。后面的名詞。The last of the bread is gone.The last of the rolls are gone.Half of the milk has been spilt onto the floor.Half of the books are novels.none (of):e.g.: We had three cats once. None (of them) is / are alive now. None of the guests wants / want to stay. None of them

23、 has / have come back yet. None of this money is mine. I wanted some string but there was none in the house. 當(dāng)不定代詞當(dāng)不定代詞 all 作主語(yǔ)表示人時(shí)作主語(yǔ)表示人時(shí), ,謂語(yǔ)動(dòng)詞用復(fù)謂語(yǔ)動(dòng)詞用復(fù)數(shù)形式數(shù)形式; ;當(dāng)當(dāng) all 表示物時(shí)表示物時(shí), ,謂語(yǔ)動(dòng)詞用單數(shù)形式謂語(yǔ)動(dòng)詞用單數(shù)形式。如如: :All is ready for the reception.All are eager to reach an agreement.All were silent. 人人都緘口無(wú)言。All

24、was silent. 萬(wàn)籟俱寂。All is not gold that glitters.Alls well that ends well.當(dāng)當(dāng)“both (of + 復(fù)數(shù)名詞復(fù)數(shù)名詞) )”作主語(yǔ)時(shí)作主語(yǔ)時(shí), ,謂語(yǔ)動(dòng)詞謂語(yǔ)動(dòng)詞總是用總是用復(fù)復(fù)數(shù)數(shù); ;如果主語(yǔ)是如果主語(yǔ)是“either /neither of + 復(fù)數(shù)復(fù)數(shù)名詞或代詞名詞或代詞” ” 結(jié)構(gòu)時(shí)結(jié)構(gòu)時(shí), , 謂語(yǔ)動(dòng)詞一般用單數(shù)形式謂語(yǔ)動(dòng)詞一般用單數(shù)形式( (但在非正式文體中但在非正式文體中, ,也可以根據(jù)意義一致或就近原也可以根據(jù)意義一致或就近原則則, ,謂語(yǔ)動(dòng)詞用復(fù)數(shù)形式謂語(yǔ)動(dòng)詞用復(fù)數(shù)形式) )。如：。如：Both of

25、them are absent.Both (of the answers) are correct.Has either of your parents visited you?Neither of them wants to come.The above is/are the most important fact/facts.Of pigs and cows, the former are less valuable.表示前后照應(yīng)的詞組表示前后照應(yīng)的詞組, ,如如: :the above, the below, the former, the latter, the aforesaid 等

26、等, ,應(yīng)根據(jù)所應(yīng)根據(jù)所指對(duì)象決定動(dòng)詞的單復(fù)數(shù)形式指對(duì)象決定動(dòng)詞的單復(fù)數(shù)形式。如。如: :但但 one or two 后接復(fù)數(shù)名詞后接復(fù)數(shù)名詞, ,謂語(yǔ)動(dòng)詞用復(fù)數(shù)謂語(yǔ)動(dòng)詞用復(fù)數(shù)形式。如形式。如: :One or two days are enough to see the city.There are one or two things I want to talk over with you.當(dāng)當(dāng) “ “one + and a half + 復(fù)數(shù)名詞復(fù)數(shù)名詞” ” 作主語(yǔ)時(shí)作主語(yǔ)時(shí), ,謂語(yǔ)動(dòng)詞通常用單數(shù)。如謂語(yǔ)動(dòng)詞通常用單數(shù)。如: :One and a half apples was ea

27、ten by the boy. One and a half days is all I can spare.There are heaps of books on the subject.There is heaps of fun.B) 如果主語(yǔ)是由如果主語(yǔ)是由 lots of, heaps of, loads of, scads of, plenty of, a great deal of 等加上名詞構(gòu)成時(shí)等加上名詞構(gòu)成時(shí),謂謂語(yǔ)動(dòng)詞的單復(fù)數(shù)形式取決于其后的名詞的單復(fù)數(shù)形語(yǔ)動(dòng)詞的單復(fù)數(shù)形式取決于其后的名詞的單復(fù)數(shù)形式式: 如果名詞是單數(shù)形式如果名詞是單數(shù)形式, 動(dòng)詞也采取單數(shù)形式動(dòng)詞也采取

28、單數(shù)形式; 如如果名詞是復(fù)數(shù)形式果名詞是復(fù)數(shù)形式, 動(dòng)詞也采用復(fù)數(shù)形式。動(dòng)詞也采用復(fù)數(shù)形式。There is plenty of time.There are plenty of rooms in the hotel.e.g.: A series of accidents has been reported. A committee of five men and three women is to consider the matter. The board of directors is responsible for the management of the company. The

29、Board of Directors are shaking their heads at the Chairmans speech.C) 當(dāng)主語(yǔ)是由當(dāng)主語(yǔ)是由“a portion of, a series of, a pile of, a panel of, a committee of, a board of”構(gòu)成構(gòu)成, 其謂其謂語(yǔ)動(dòng)詞一般根據(jù)語(yǔ)法一致原則用單數(shù)形式語(yǔ)動(dòng)詞一般根據(jù)語(yǔ)法一致原則用單數(shù)形式。D) 如果主語(yǔ)是由如果主語(yǔ)是由 “a (this/ that) kind / sort / type of + 名詞名詞” 構(gòu)成構(gòu)成, 動(dòng)詞用單數(shù)。動(dòng)詞用單數(shù)。 有時(shí)有時(shí) kind of 之

30、前的限定詞和之后的名詞都采用復(fù)之前的限定詞和之后的名詞都采用復(fù)數(shù)形式數(shù)形式, 這時(shí)動(dòng)詞也采用復(fù)數(shù)：這時(shí)動(dòng)詞也采用復(fù)數(shù)： These kind of men annoy me. Those sort of cars have their use. These type of machines are up to date. e.g.: This kind of man annoys me. 但如果以但如果以men/ apples等作名詞中心詞等作名詞中心詞, 其后面的其后面的動(dòng)詞用復(fù)數(shù)形式。動(dòng)詞用復(fù)數(shù)形式。e.g.: Men of this kind are dangerous. There a

31、re many kinds of apples. These kinds of apple trees have not yet grown up. 以上各例都是同一類的人以上各例都是同一類的人/ 蘋果蘋果/ 機(jī)器等機(jī)器等, these kind / sort of machines = machines of this kind。 如果講的不是同一類的機(jī)器而是多種機(jī)器如果講的不是同一類的機(jī)器而是多種機(jī)器, 那么那么動(dòng)詞也應(yīng)用復(fù)數(shù)形式。動(dòng)詞也應(yīng)用復(fù)數(shù)形式。Many a man has tried it before.Many a man has sacrificed his life for

32、the cause of the revolution.There is more than one answer to your question.More than one person is involved in the case. F) “an average of/ a majority of + 復(fù)數(shù)名詞復(fù)數(shù)名詞”作作主語(yǔ)主語(yǔ), 依意義而定依意義而定: 明確表示多數(shù)個(gè)體概念時(shí)明確表示多數(shù)個(gè)體概念時(shí), 用復(fù)用復(fù)數(shù)動(dòng)詞數(shù)動(dòng)詞; 不表示多數(shù)個(gè)體概念時(shí)不表示多數(shù)個(gè)體概念時(shí), 用單數(shù)動(dòng)詞。用單數(shù)動(dòng)詞。 e.g.: An average of 25 persons apply each mo

33、nth. An average of 25 applications a month is un- usual.E) 主語(yǔ)由主語(yǔ)由 many a, more than one 修飾修飾, 意義為復(fù)意義為復(fù)數(shù)數(shù), 形式為單數(shù)形式為單數(shù), 用單數(shù)動(dòng)詞。用單數(shù)動(dòng)詞。3.3 Other problems of subject-verb concord 1) Problems of concord with a nominal clause as subject When the subject is a nominal clause introduced by what, who, why, how,

34、 which and whether, the verb usually takes the singular form. What she told me is none of your business.How you got there doesnt concern me.Who is to blame has not been decided yet.Why she did it remains a mystery. Whether she comes or not is not known.Which side will win is not clear. But when the

35、subject is a coordination (two or more nominal clauses) by and or bothand, the verb in the main clause takes the plural form.uWhat he did and what he said are totally different.uWho they are and where they come from are not known. When the what-clause refers to two actions, the verb of the main clau

36、se can be plural. e.g.: What I say and think (= What I say and what I think) are no business of yours. What my wife said and thought are none of your concern. When the subject complement is plural, the verb of the main clause can be plural. What they want are promises. What we badly need are financi

37、al aids. What his father left him are a few books. When the what-clause is plural in meaning, the verb of the main clause can be plural.l What ideas he has are his wifes. l What appear to be large windows in the second storey are glass heat collectors.2) Subject-verb concord with a non-finite clause

38、 as subject To save time is to lengthen life. To set up the tent costs us 2 hours each time. Playing with fire is dangerous. Seeing is believing. When to do or doing is used as the subject, the verb of the main clause usually takes the sin-gular form. When two or more such clauses are linked by and,

39、 the verb of the main clause takes the singular form when the subject refers to one thing, and the plural form when the subject refers to separate things. Weeping and wailing (哭哭啼啼) does nothing towards solving the problem.Previewing and reviewing are very necessary if you want to study the English

40、grammar well.u Early to rise and early to go to bed is a good habit.u To eat to live and to live to eat constitute two different attitudes toward life.3) Subject-verb concord in relative clauses e.g.: Sarah is the only one of the youngest girls who plays in the band. Is there any one of you who want

41、s to go with me? In a relative clause, the verb form is decided by the number form of the antecedent: In the construction of “one of + plural noun + relative clause”, the verb usually takes the plural form. e.g.: This is one of the most interesting questions that have been asked. When “one” is prece

42、ded by “the, the only, any”, the verb can only be singular.e.g.: The girl who does/is; The girls who do/are4) Subject-verb concord in cleft-sentences In ”It isthat/who” patterns, the verb form in that- /who- clause is decided by the antecedent： e.g.: It is the girl who does It is the girls who do If the focal element is I, the verb should be “am /was”; if it is me, the verb should be “is/was”. e.g.: It is I who am