(二)主語、謂語的一致
主謂一致指的是謂語動詞在人稱和數(shù)上必須與主語保持一致。處理主謂一致問題，可依據(jù)三項原則：語法上一致、意義上一致和就近一致。根據(jù)這些原則，總結(jié)如下：
1.謂語動詞用單數(shù)。 (1)以單數(shù)名詞或代詞、動詞不定式短語、動名詞短語或從句作主語時，謂語動詞一般要用單數(shù)動詞。
例如：To work hard is necessary.努力工作是必要的。
Reading without comprehension is no good.只讀不理解是不好的。
It pays to work hard. 天道酬勤。
(2)事件、國家、機構(gòu)名稱、書刊及其他作品的名稱(專有名詞)用作主語時，謂語動詞用單數(shù)。
例如：The United States was formed in 1776.美國于1776年成立。
The New York Times still has a wide circulation.紐約時報發(fā)行量仍然很大。
Roots is a novel about a black family.《根》是一部關(guān)于(美國)黑人家庭的小說。
(3)表示時間、距離、重量、度量、價值等的復數(shù)形式主語，習慣上用單數(shù)謂語動詞。
例如：Two weeks was too long.兩周太長了。
Ten dollars is a small sum.十美元是個小數(shù)目。
Five times five makes twenty five.五乘以五是二十五。
One and a half bananas is left on the table.一只半香蕉留在桌子上。
(4)表示學科和某些疾病名稱的名詞是復數(shù)形式，作主語時，謂語動詞用單數(shù)形式。
例如：Linguistics is a branch of study on human language.語言學是人類語言中的一個分枝。
(5)有些名詞形式是復數(shù)，意義為單數(shù)，作主語時，要求單數(shù)動詞。
例如：The chaos was stopped by the police.混亂被警察阻止了。
The news is a great encouragement to us.這新聞對我們來說是一個很大的鼓舞。
Her present whereabouts is still unknown.她目前的行蹤仍然不明。
(6)主語是單數(shù)時，盡管后面跟as well as (以及)，no less than (不少于……，多 達)，rather than(而不是)，more than(不止是，超過)，but(除了)，except(除……外)，besides( 加之，還有)，with(和……一起，和……一塊兒)，along with(跟……一起)，accompanied by ( 由……陪同)，combined with(加上)，in addition to(除……以外)，including(包括)，together with(與……一起)等，謂語動詞仍用單數(shù)形式。
(7)某些不定代詞，如：either,neither,each,one,other,another,anybody,anyone, anything,somebody,someone,something,everybody,everyone,everything,nobody,no one,nothing 等，當他們作主語時，其謂語動詞通常用單數(shù)形式。
例如：Each of the boys has an apple.每個孩子都有蘋果。
Somebody is using the phone.有人正在用電話。
Everything around us is matter.我們周圍一切都是物質(zhì)。
但是口語中當either或neither后+of+復數(shù)名詞(或代詞)作定語時，其謂語動詞也可用復數(shù)。
例如：Is (Are)either of the boys ready?兩個男孩都準備好了嗎?
Neither of the novels is (are)interesting.哪一本小說都沒意思。
(8)集合名詞作主語表示整體概念時，動詞用單數(shù)謂語形式。
例如：The government is made up of senior members of the four main rightwing parties.
這屆政府由四個主要右翼黨的高級官員組成。
His family is not very large.他的家庭并不太大。
The staff of our school is opposed to the drastic changes in the system of education.
我們學校的教員都反對教育體制的激烈改革。
The crowd was deeply stirred by his speech.他的演說深深地打動了聽眾。
(9)用and連接的成分表示單一概念時，動詞謂語用單數(shù)形式。
例如：Bread and butter is our daily food.黃油和面包是我們的日常食用品。
Time and tide waits for no man.時光和潮流不等人。
The secretary and principal of the school was present at the meeting.該校的書記兼校長出席了會議。
(10)用and連接的并列成分前面有each,every,many a,no等詞修飾時，意義為單數(shù)，動詞也相應(yīng)地用單數(shù)形式。
例如：In China,every boy and girl has the right to compulsory education.在中國每個兒童都有權(quán)利接受義務(wù)教育。
Each man and woman who takes the TOEFL is supposed to get the score report in five weeks.參加托�？荚嚨拿總�人都能在五個星期內(nèi)收到成績通知單。
Many a student and teacher has seen the film.不少老師和學生都看過這部影片。
(11) none(of+名詞或代詞)在正式文體中被看做單數(shù)，謂語動詞用單數(shù)，但非正式文體中也可以用復數(shù)。
例如：None of us seem to have thought of it.我們中似乎沒有人想到它。
“Is there any letter for me?”“Sorry,there’s none.”“有我的信嗎”?“對不起，沒有。”
None of the drivers has (have) turned up.一個司機都沒有來。
2.謂語動詞用復數(shù)。
(1)用and,both...and連接的并列主語，或在both,(a)few,many,several等修飾語后面謂語動詞通常用復數(shù)形式。
例如：Plastics and rubber never rot.塑料和橡膠永不生銹。
He and I were classmates when we were at college.他和我大學時曾是同班同學。
Both of these novels are interesting.這兩部小說都有意思。
Few people know it.幾乎無人知道。
(2)集體名詞如people,police,public,militia,cattle,class,youth等，常用復數(shù)形式的謂語動詞。
例如：The Chinese people are brave and hardworking.中國人民是勤勞勇敢的。
Most police wear uniforms.絕大多數(shù)警察穿制服。
The cattle are grazing in the sunshine.一群牛在陽光下吃草。
(3)當表示民族的詞與冠詞合用充當主語時，謂語動詞用復數(shù)形式。
例如：The Japanese were once very aggressive.日本人曾是很具有侵略性的。
The English are more conservative and less talkative than the Americans.英國人比美國人保守且不愛說話。
(4)某些形容詞前面加定冠詞表示一類人。作主語時，謂語動詞用復數(shù)。
例如：The rich are not always selfish.富人不總是自私的。
The wounded are well treated here.傷員在這兒接受良好治療。
The aged suffer from various miseries in this country.老年人在這個國家承受各種悲慘遭遇。
(5)不可數(shù)名詞作主語，其前有表示數(shù)量的復數(shù)名詞修飾時，謂語動詞用復數(shù)。
例如：Three million tons of coal were exported that year.那年出口三百萬噸煤。
Two million square meters of housing were constructed in my hometown last year.我的家鄉(xiāng)去年蓋了二百萬平方米的住宅。
