英文写作——The Elements of Style知识点解读4—主谓一致—单复数的用法

The Elements of Style

Elementary Rules of Usage 惯用法的基本规则

第9条：

Rule 9: The number of the subject determines the number of the verb

主谓一致，主语的单复数觉得谓语动词的单复数

（1）位于主语和谓语动词之间的词不影响动词的单复数；

The bittersweet flavor of youth—its trials, its joys, its adventures, its challenges —is the treasure of life. (注意这里后一个破折号之后跟的是is,对应bittersweet flavor，不受中间复数名词影响)

The woman's features—her appearance, her wearing, her figure—are reproduced in the painting. (注意这里后一个破折号之后跟的是are,对应features，不受中间单数名词影响)

（2）One of +名词复数+定语从句，从句的谓语动词应该用复数；

One of the scientists who have attended the meeting is Einstein. (注意定语从句中的谓语动词应该用复数have，而不是has，而meeting后面的谓语动词使用单数is，对应了开头的one)

One of the athletes who have won the Olympic gold medal. (谓语动词应该用复数have，而不是has)

（3）在each, either, everyone, everybody, neither, nobody, someone等词后面的谓语动词用单数；

Everybody works hard to win the game.

Each place has its streams in from all over the country. 一方水土养一方人

（4） 对于none这个词，当它表示“no one”或“not one”时，谓语动词用单数；

None of us is perfect.

但当none指代多件事物或人时，谓语动词用复数；

None are so fallible as those who are sure they're right.

（5）由两个或两个以上名词构成的复合主语谓语动词用复数；

Mary and Lily are reading books.

Local production and regional transport are the two main processes.

注：但对于某些复合合主语，通常是一些约定俗成的词语则和each或every修饰的复合主语一样，使用单数形式的谓语动词；

The long and the short of it is……（The long and the short表示它的长短）

Bread and butter was all she served. （Bread and butter，面包和黄油通常被看作是一个整体）

Give and take is essential to a happy household. (Give and take, 相互迁就)

Fish and chips is a famous British food. (Fish and chips, 炸鱼薯条，是一道菜)

The waste and poison does great harm. (waste and poison, 废弃和有毒物品，是一个整体)

Every paragraph, sentence, and word was checked. 

（6）单数主语的谓语动词保持单数形式，不受由连接词如with, as well as, in addition to, except, together with, no less than附加的其他名词影响；

The local emission as well as regional transport is an important factor. （谓语动词用单数is,和主语local emission对应）

注意： The local emission and regional transport are important factors. (如果as well as 改用and, 这句话就变成了一个复合主语，谓语动词用are)

Lily, together with her mother, often goes shopping. （谓语动词用单数goes, 和主语Lily对应，不受mother影响）

Jack, along with several of his friends, is preparing a party. （谓语动词用单数goes, 和主语Lily对应，不受friends影响）

（7）连系动词形式与主语数目一致；

What is wanted is a few books. (主语是what is wanted,第二个is对应第一个is)

The main idea of this paper is aerosol's two different effects. (主语是the main idea, 谓语动词使用单数is)

（8）一些名词表面上看起来是复数，但语法上是单数，谓语动词使用单数形式；

Sports is not only a kind of physical activity but also an art and culture. 

Politics is an art, not a science.

The firm's headquarters is in Beijing. (这家公司总部在北京）

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对于（5)和（8）中这样的问题，需要我们熟悉一些英语中的习惯用语。

The contents of a book is singular. （书籍目录是单数的）

The contents of a jar may be either singular or plural. （罐子里装的东西可以是单数也可以是复数，取决于装的内容，如果装的是jam果酱则是单数，如果装的是marbles玻璃球则是复数） 

 

今天基本就是翻译了，没啥新加的内容。