Ⅳ. 主語前、后加表“數、量”等的修飾語時:
1. a)“many a + 單名 ”接單數謂語:“a good (great ) many + 復名”接復數謂語。e.g.
①Many a fine man has died for it . 許多優秀戰士為此獻出了生命。
②A great many parents were present at the meeting . 許多家長出席了會議。
b)"a / an + 單名+ or two " 大多接單數謂語: "one or two + 復名"接復數謂語。e.g.
①Only a word or two is (are )needed. 只需說一兩句。
②One or two reasoms were suggested . 提出一兩條理由。
c)"a / an + 單名+ and a half"常接單數謂語;“one and a half +復名”多接復數謂語。e.g.
①A year and a half has passed . 一年半已過去了。
②One and a half tons of rice are sold . 已賣了一噸半大米。
d) "more than one + 單名"大多接單數謂語。e.g.
①More than one person was (were )absent . 不止一個人缺席。
"more + 復名+ than one "接復數謂語。e.g.
②More students than one have been there . 不止一個學生去過那兒。
"more than two (three,…)+復名 " 接復數謂語。e.g.
③More than one hundred students have attended the concert . 不止一百名學生聽了這場音樂會。
2. 主語前加表示“單位、度量”的短語如“a kind (sort / type / form /pair /cup /glass /piece / load / block / box / handful / quantity / ton / metre /… )of”等時,表示“單位、度量”的這個名詞的單復數決定謂語形式。e.g.
a)①There is only a small quantity of paper (books ) left . 只剩下少量的紙(書)了。
②Large quantities of water are needed . 需要大量的水。
b)①This kind of apple is sweet . 這種蘋果甜。
②This kind of apples is (are) sweet . (大多依 kind ,作單數用 )
③These kind(s) of apple(s) are sweet . (總作復數用)
但:Apples of this kind are sweet . (總作復數用)
3. 主語后接“with…”等構成的短語修飾成分時:謂語仍須與這類短語前的“主語”一致。可構成這類短語的常用“with ,along with ,together with ,as well as , but , besides , except ,added to , including , like ,no less than , rather than , more than ”等。e.g.
①A woman with two children has come . 一位婦女帶著兩個孩子來了。
②I as well as they am ready to help you . 不僅他們,我也愿幫助你。
4. "one of + 復數名詞+ 定語從句":
1)定語從句的先行詞通常是這個“復數名詞”,因此從句的謂語用復數形式。e.g.
①This is one of the best novels that have appeared this year . 這是今年出版的最佳小說之一。(關系詞“that”代“novels”)
②He was one of the boys who were praised . 他是受表揚的男孩之一。
2)若“one”前加“this, the ,the only ”等時,定語從句的關系詞指代one,作從句主語時,接單數謂語。e.g.
He was the only one of the boys who was praaised .他是男孩中唯一受到表揚的。(關系詞who 代 the only one )
【意義一致原則(Notional Concord)】
I. 集合名詞作主語時:(參見“名詞”部分)
1. 有些通常作復數用(不變詞形)。如:“people , police , cattle (牛,牲口),folk , youth , militia (民兵)”,等。e.g.
The police have caught the murderer .警方已捕獲兇手。
2. 有些指“整體”時作單數,指其中的“成員”時作復數(不變詞形)。如 "army , audience(聽眾),class ,club (俱樂部) ,company(公司), committee(委員會) ,crew ,crowd ,staff(員工) ,family ,public ,government ,group ,party ,union ,couple ,population ,team ."等。e.g.
①Our family is a happy one . 我們有個幸福的家庭。
②The family are early risers . 這家人都起得早。
③The public are (is )requested not to litter . 請公眾不要亂扔廢棄物。
但上述集合名詞也可有復數形式。如:families , two classes .等。有些變復數形式后意義不同。如:peoples多個民族。 youths男青年。 folks親友。