一致关系指句子成分之间须在人称、数、性等方面保持一致.在英语中最主要的一致关系是主语和谓语动词之间数的一致,即人们常说的主谓一致。
在现代英语中主谓一致基本遵循如下原则:语法一致原则、意义一致原则和就近原则。
1. 语法一致原则
语法一致原则就是根据主语的语法形式决定其谓语动词的语法形式.主语是单数,谓语动词就用单数形式;主语是复数,谓语动词就用复数形式。例如:
A letter has been sent to every student.给每个学生寄了一封信.
Two letters have been sent to every student.给每个学生寄了两封信.
2. 意义一致原则
意义一致原则指主谓语之间的一致关系不是由主语的语法形式来决定,而是由主语所表达的意义来决定.形式是单数的主语,其谓语有可能是复数形式;反之,形式是复数的主语,其谓语有可能是单数形式.例如:
The government have broken all their promises. 政府违背了全部诺言.(指政府中的各部门或成员)
The United States is a country advanced in science and technology. 美国是一个科学技术发达的国家.(美国是由许多的州构成的单一国家)
3. 就近原则
就近原则,指谓语动词的单、复数形式取决于最靠近它的词语.由neither...nor或either...or连接或者当一个句子是由 there 或here引起,而主语又不止一个时,谓语通常和最靠近它的主语一致.例如:
Here is a pen, a few envelopes and some paper in the drawer.抽屉里有一支钢笔,几个信封和一些纸.
Neither she nor I am wet.她和我都没有被淋湿.
上述三条原则的具体应用比较复杂,下列几点应予以注意:
1. 谓语动词用单数的情况
(1) 不定式、动名词短语或名词性从句作主语时,谓语动词用单数.例如:
To become actresses is their ambition. 作演员是她们的雄心.
Nodding often means you say "yes".点头常常意味着你表示同意.
What I did was to give her a book.我所做的就是给她一本书.
(2) 事件、国名、机构名称、作品名称用作主语时,谓语动词用单数.例如:
The United Nations was formed in 1945. 联合国成立于1945年.
The Thirty-Nine Steps is an interesting novel. 《三十九级台阶》是一本很有意思的小说.
(3)one, every, everyone, everybody, each, one of, any, either, neither, one, nobody, anyone, someone, somebody 用作主语或修饰主语时,谓语动词用单数.例如:
Many a student doesn't like having to do their homework. 很多学生都不喜欢被迫做作业.
Neither of the two girls is at home.两个女孩都不在家.
但现在英美也有人在neither of用作主语或修饰主语的句子中用复数形式的谓语动词.例如:
Neither of the two girls are at home.
(4)表示时间、距离、金钱、体积、数字等的词语用作主语表示总量时,谓语动词用单数.例如:
Fifteen years represents a long period of his life. 15年代表他一生中一个很长的时期.
(5)单数词作主语,虽然后接由including, as well as , together with, in addition to, accompanied by等词连接的其它词,谓语动词仍用单数.例如:
Gold, as well as silver, has recently risen in price. 最近金银的价格上涨了.
(6) a portion of, a series of, a kind of 等词语修饰主语时,谓语动词一般根据语法一致原则用单数.例如:
A series of pre-recorded tapes has been prepared for language laboratory use. 已准备好一系列预先录制的磁带供语言实验室使用.
2. 谓语动词用复数的情况
(1)both, some, few, many, several等词语用作主语或修饰主语时,谓语动词用复数.例如:
Few of my classmates really understand me.我的同学中没有几位真正理解我.
(2)形容词前加定冠词泛指时,谓语动词用复数.例如:
In many western films, the good are well rewarded and the bad are punished. 在很多西方电影中,好人有好报,恶人有恶报.
3. 其他情况
(1)由and连接两个主语时,谓语动词一般用复数.例如:
The secretary and the headmaster of the school were present at the meeting.学校的书记和校长都出席了会议.
但当and连接的词语作整体考虑,或在意义上指同一个人或物时,谓语动词一般用单数.例如:
The secretary and headmaster of the school was present at the meeting. 学校的书记兼校长出席了会议.
当由and连接的两个单数名词前面有each ,every 等词修饰时,谓语动词一般用单数.例如:
Each actor and actress was invited. 每一位男演员和女演员都受到了邀请.
一个单数名词前有由and连接的两个形容词修饰时,谓语动词一般用复数.例如:
Chinese and Japanese silk are of good quality.中国和日本丝绸质量都好.
(2)当or, either...or, neither...nor, not only...but also连接一个单数主语和一个复数主语时,谓语动词的数取决于它邻近的主语的数.例如:
Neither the prices nor the quality has changed. 价格与质量都没变.
Neither the quality nor the prices have changed. 质量与价格都没变.
(3)集体名词作主语时,谓语动词的数常取决于主语的意义.当主语表示整体时,谓语动词用单数;当主语强调集体中的个体时,谓语动词用复数.
The family is the basic unit of the society. 家庭是社会的基本单位.
The family have aGREed among themselves to spend their vacation in Italy. 一家人都同意去意大利度假.
这类集体名词有:people, army, audience, cattle, class, club, committee, crowd, family, government, group, majority, minority, party, police, public, staff, team等,其中 people, cattle, police常用复数.
(4)一些表示数量的词语,如a lot of , any of, most of, half of, two-thirds of, ninety percent of, part of, the rest of, some of, none of , all of与名词连接时,谓语动词
的数取决于名词的数.名词用单数,谓语动词也用单数,名词用复数,谓语动词也用复数.例如:
A lot of my friends are here to celebrate my birthday. 我的很多朋友来这里庆贺我的生日.
Most of the book is interesting.这本书大部分很有意思.
注意当a number of修饰主语时,谓语动词用复数,而当the number of与名词连用作主语时,谓语动词用单数.例如:
A number of students were late for school owing to the storm. 一些学生因暴风雨而迟到.
The number of errors was surprising. 错误的数量让人吃惊.
