104 復(fù)數(shù)形式的名詞作主語時謂語動詞的形式 Track 101
這種情況下,謂語動詞的形式不能一概而論?;驹瓌t是:
1)若復(fù)數(shù)形式的名詞表示的是復(fù)數(shù)概念,則顯然要接復(fù)數(shù)形式的謂語;
2)若復(fù)數(shù)形式的名詞表示的是單數(shù)概念,或?qū)⑵淇闯梢粋€整體,則用單數(shù)形式的謂語。
這樣說來,在這種情況下,我們主要采用意義一致的原則來判斷主謂一致。
(1)常見的表示成對概念的復(fù)數(shù)名詞作主語時,謂語用復(fù)數(shù)形式
此類常見的復(fù)數(shù)名詞有:
pants trousers scissors scales(天平)
glasses binoculars(雙筒望遠(yuǎn)鏡) spectacles(護(hù)目鏡)
但這類名詞前若有A pair of修飾時,謂語用單數(shù)形式(詳見第106小節(jié))。
(2)形式上是復(fù)數(shù) (詞尾有s)但表示單數(shù)概念的詞,作主語時謂語用單數(shù)形式
works(工廠) gallows(絞刑架) politics
statistics measles diabetes
例句
a. Politics is often a popular topic among people.
b. Statistics is a science.
但若politics,statistics不表示學(xué)科,而分別表示“政治觀點(diǎn)”和“統(tǒng)計數(shù)據(jù)”,則作主語時,謂語需用復(fù)數(shù)形式。
例句
a. Statistics prove that…
b. What are your politics?
c. As far as I am concerned, his politics are rather conservative compared with other politicians’.
(3)表示時間、重量、數(shù)額的復(fù)數(shù)名詞作主語時,我們通常將它們看成一個整體,謂語用單數(shù)形式
a. Ten years is a moment in history.
b. One hundred dollars is a large sum for the poor.
c. Two tons is enough.
d. The difference between America and England is: the English think 100 miles is a long distance and Americans think 100 years is a long time.
值得注意的是,大于“1”的“數(shù)詞”單獨(dú)作主語,表示人或物時,謂語動詞一般用復(fù)數(shù)形式。
e. Ten were killed, five were missing and several were severely wounded in thataccident .
f.Few know the fact
(4)復(fù)數(shù)的專有名詞作主語時,謂語均用復(fù)數(shù)形式
a. The Himalayas are the roof of the world.
b. The Great Lakes are a series of five lakes between the USA and Canada.
c. The Niagara Falls are the falls on the Niagara River.
不過,較特殊的比如the United Nations,the United States均看作一個整體,故作主語時,謂語用單數(shù)形式。