6.主语形式为复数但意义为单数如:news, works,或一些以-ics结尾的学科名称,如:physics, politics, maths等时,谓语动词用单数形式。但trousers, shoes, glasses等均为复数名词,他们在句中作主语时,谓语动词只能用复数形式,不过,当他们前面有a (this) pair of 等修饰时,后面的谓语动词需用单数形式。 The news is very exciting.
My trousers are too long.
三、就近原则
1.由or, either…or…,neither…nor…,not only…but also…连接并列主语时,谓语动词要和靠近它的主语一致。 One or two days are enough to see the city.
2.在there be或here be 句型中,如果有并列的两个名词作主语,谓语动词要和靠近它的主语一致。 There is a girl and four boys in the room.
There are four boys and a girl in the room.
四、容易混淆的几种用法比较
1.并列连词and连接并列主语的几种情况
(1)两个或多个单数名词、不可数名词或代词并列共同作主语时,谓语动词用复数形式。
Tom and Jim are going to Beijing tomorrow.
(2)当and 连接的两个名词指同一人或物,(即and后无冠词时),谓语动词用单数形式。
The worker and writer is coming tomorrow.
(3)当and连接的两个单数名词前都有every, each或no修饰时,谓语动词用单数。
Each boy and each girl is going to take part in the sports meeting next week.
Neither Lucy nor Carol has any money left.
Both Jim and his father have gone fishing.
3.”the + 姓氏名词复数”表示“……一家”或“……夫妇”,当其在句中作主语时,谓语动词用复数形式。 The Black enjoy working in China.
4.the number of, a number of
the number of 表示“……的数目”,谓语动词用单数
a number of 表示“若干,许多”,后接名词或代词的复数形式,谓语动词用复数形式。
The number of the villagers is about 70.
A number of the children are from other countries.
5.one of +名词复数 + 谓语动词单数,表示“其中之一”
One of the policemen has worked for 30 hours.
6.what从句作主语
what从句作主语时,如果表示的是单数意义,则谓语动词用单数形式如果表示的是复数意义,则谓语动词用复数形式。
What he wanted to know was why they didn’t tell him.