上集談了兩個有關(guān)Subject-verb agreement的守則,其實(shí)還有其他守則需要注意。
守則3︰量詞作為主語
a box of cookies
應(yīng)該用單數(shù)還是複數(shù)動詞?在上述情況下,量詞就是主語,所以是A box of cookies costs twenty dollars.
守則4: 兩個主句連接成長句
The building at the corner of the street and the cinema at the far end (is / are) going to be renovated soon.
句子很長,令人難以找到主語。其實(shí),這里有兩個主語︰the building 和 the cinema,由and連接,所以應(yīng)該用are。
守則5︰不定代名詞
以下不定代名詞會作單數(shù)動詞用︰each, anyone, everyone, someone, no one, nobody, everything, something, nothing,例如︰
Everyone is working now.
Nobody has finished the work.
Each of the products is unique.
但是以下不定代名詞︰all, some, none可以跟單數(shù)或複數(shù),視乎之后的名詞而決定,例如︰
All of the products are sold out.
products是複數(shù),所以要用複數(shù)動詞are
Some of the water goes away.
只要記得這些守則,決定動詞是單數(shù)或複數(shù)就沒有難度了。
關(guān)于作者:
戴婉真(Alice)畢業(yè)于香港大學(xué)、悉尼科技大學(xué)碩士(培訓(xùn)與人力資源發(fā)展)。前香港大學(xué)經(jīng)濟(jì)及工商管理學(xué)院行政課程助理總監(jiān)、跨國企業(yè)市場及營銷部門主管,為中、英語磚業(yè)翻譯人員。她曾撰寫職場英語磚欄超過9年。