3)整体原则
①从句、不定式、动名词等作主语时谓语动词一律视作一个整体,谓语动词用单数。
When to leave has not been decided.
什么时候离开还没有定下来。
Go shopping on Sunday is one of his habits.
周日购物是他的一个习惯。
注:如果主语是两个(或两个以上)的名词性从句,谓语动词常用复数。
What he said and what he did were always different.
他所说的和他所做的总是不一样。
②如果两个以上的名词组成一个整体概念作主语时,谓语动词须用单数。
(a)The novelist and poet is going to Europe next year.
这位小说家兼诗人打算明年去欧洲。
(b)The novelist and the poet are going to Europe next year.
小说家和诗人都打算明年去欧洲。
分析:
(a)句中小说家和诗人the novelist and poet为同一个人,故谓语动词用单数;而(b)句中有两个人,一个是小说家the novelist,另一个是诗人the poet。
③专用名词,如:书名、剧名、报刊名、国家(组织)名等,通常作单数用。
The United States was found in 1776.美国成立于1776年。
④表示时间、距离、金额、度量等词语作主语时,通常被视作整体,谓语动词用单数。
Ten minutes is enough.十分钟足够了。
⑤加减乘除等数学运算谓语动词通常用单数。
Two times three makes six.二乘三等于六。
(4)个体原则
①and连接的两个或多个主语前如果有each,every,no等修饰语时(后面的一个有时也可省略),后面的谓语动词用单数形式。
Every man and every woman is busy at working.每个人都在忙着工作。
②英语句中的each, either, neither等词,既可作代词充当主语,又可作形容词修饰主语,这时的谓语动词一律用单数。
Neither of us has been abroad.我们谁都没出过国。
③由some,any every,no构成的复合词(somebody,nobody,everything,anything等)作主语时,谓语动词用单数。
Somebody is waiting for you at the school gate.有人在学校门口等你。
④many a/more than one+单数名词,一般接单数谓语动词。
Many a man does not understand Einstein's relativity.
许多人不明白爱因斯坦的相对论。
⑤“one and a half+复数名词”作主语,谓语动词一般用单数。
One and a half hours has passed.一个半小时过去了。
⑥成双成对出现的复数名词(glasses, scissors, shoes, trousers,pants,gloves,stockings等)作主语时,通常谓语动词用复数,但如果前面有a/the pair of;a/the suit of等词语时,则谓语动词要用单数。
A pair of scissors is useful tool for a dressmaker.剪刀是裁缝的重要工具。
⑦以“-s”结尾的“复数”名词(如:一些学科名词mathematics, physics, politics等),或以“-s”结尾的地点名词、人名等词后面的谓语动词通常用单数。