主谓一致

谓语动词在人称和数上要和主语保持一致。

意义一致：就是根据句子主语的意义来确定谓语动词的单复数。

• 有的主语在形式上是复数形式，但意义上是单数，谓语动词用单数形式，反之亦然。
  • Three miles seems like a long walk for me. 其中 three miles 在意义上被理解为一段路这一个整理单数，所以使用单数形式。
  • Maths is difficult for us.数学对我们来说很难。
  • The police are trying to search for the thief on the hill.警察们正在山上尽力搜查小偷。
• 当主语后接 as well as, as much as, more than, rather than, with, together with 等引导的词组时，谓语动词与主语单复数一致。
  • The teacher, with all his students, is going to have a picnic this weekend. 其中 the teacher 是主语，所以 is going to 使用单数。
  • The students, together with their teacher, are going to have picnic this weekend. 其中 the students 是主语，所以are going to 使用复数。
• and连接并列主语，意义上表示同一概念时，谓语动词用单数。
  • The poet and writer has come. 其中因为使用了 has 单数，所以 the poet and writer 是指代同一个人。
  • A man's own manner and character is very important. 其中指代的同一个人，所以使用单数。

语法一致：即单数主语要用单数谓语动词，复数主语要用复数谓语动词。

• Every girl comes on time. 其中每个女孩子是单数。
• The electorate and corporate America are just not ready to put more women in top leadership positions. 其中 the electorate 和 corporate America 是两个主语，所以使用复数 are。
• In 2014, the percentage of men aged 18 to 34 living with their parents was greater than that of their female couterparts. 其中 aged 18 to 34 作定语修饰 men，living with their parents 作定语修饰 men，the percentage 百分比是主语，所以使用 was。
• My bike is under the tree.我的自行车在树下。
• These books are old.这些书是旧的。
• Vegetables sold at this shop are usually cheap.

就近原则：即当主语被某些连词（短语）连接时，谓语动词的数与离他最近的词保持一致。

常见连词：or/either...or/except/neither...nor/not only...but also/not ... but ...

• Not only the students but also the teacher is enjoying the film. 其中 is 使用单数是和 the teacher 这个最近的主语保持一致。
• Either he or I am right. 其中 am 和 I 这个最近的主语保持一致。
• Either my father or brother is coming.我父亲来，要不然就是我弟弟来。
• Not only you but also they are good students.不仅你是好学生，而且他们也是好学生。
• Not only you but also I am wrong.
• Neither Bill nor his parents are at home now.

由 and 或 both ... and 连接两个名词、代词作主语，表示不同的人或事物时，句子的谓语用复数。

• John and Mike are good friends.约翰和迈克是好朋友。
• Both bread and milk are good for you.面包和牛奶对你都有好处。
• 注意：and 连接的两个名词作主语，在意义上指同一人、同一物或同一概念时，谓语动词用单数。
  • The famous singer and dancer is coming to Chongqing.那位著名的歌唱家兼舞蹈家要来重庆。

名词或代词后接 as well as、with、along with、together with、except、but 等短语作主语时，谓语动词的形式应和介词短语前的名词或代词的人称和数保持一致。

• She as well as other students likes playing computer games.她和其他学生都喜欢玩电脑游戏。
• He with his parents in working in the fields.他正和他的父母在地里干活。
• Nobody but you and me knows it.除了你和我，没人知道。
• Nobody but John and Jim is asked to go.

不定代词作主语

• 当作主语的名词前有 each、neither、either、every 修饰或 each、neither、either 作主语时，谓语动词用单数。
  • Each students has a book.每个学生都有一本书。
  • Either answer is correct.两个答案都是正确的。
  • Neither parent is with him.他的父母没有和他在一起。
  • Every minute is important to us.每一分钟对大家都很重要。
  • When each person comes in, they must show their tickets.
• 当复合不定代词 someone、anyone、somebody、anybody、nobody、everybody、something、anything、nothing、everything 等作主语时，谓语动词用单数。
  • Somebody is waiting for you outside.有人在外面等你。
  • Is everybody here today?今天大家都到了吗？
  • Something is wrong with my watch.我的手表出故障了。
  • Nobody was away yesterday.昨天没有人离开。
  • Nothing in the world is difficult for one who is careful.

There be 和 Here be 结构后面接并列名词时，谓语动词 be 均应与最近的名词在数上保持一致

• There is a pen, a pencil, a knife and three books on the desk.书桌上有一支钢笔、一支铅笔、一把刀和三本书。
• Here are some flowers and a card.这里有一些花和一张卡片。

特殊名词作主语

• 国名、人名、书名、报刊名、组织机构等专有名词作主语时，即使其形式上是复数，谓语动词也要用单数。
  • The United States lies to the east of China.美国在中国的东方。（国名）
  • Engels was good at learning foreign languages.恩格斯擅长学外语。（人名）
• “the+形容词”作主语时，表示某类人，谓语动词用复数。
  • The sick are taken good care of.病人得到很好的照顾。
  • The old are supposed to be spoken to politely.跟老人讲话要有礼貌。
  • The football team are having a shower now.
• 以 -s 结尾的学科名词，如 maths、physics、politics 等和以 -s 结尾的抽象名词，如 news、plastics 等作主语时，谓语动词要用单数。
  • Physics is very difficult for me to learn.物理对我来说很难学。
  • The news was very exciting.这条新闻十分激动人心。
• 单复数形式相同的名词，如 Chinese、Japanese、sheep、deer 等作主语时，谓语动词的单复数由名词前的修饰语来确定。
  • A Chinese wants to see you.一个中国人想见你。
  • Ten sheep are eating grass there.那边有10只绵羊在吃草。
  • 注意：Chinese、Japanese、English 等前加 the 表示一国人，作主语时，谓语动词用复数
    • The Chinese speak Chinese.中国人说汉语。

表数量概念的词或短语作主语

• 表示时间、金钱、距离、重量等的复数名词作主语时，通常看作一个整体，谓语动词用单数。

  • Ten years has passed quickly. 10年很快就过去了。
  • Ten dollars is enough. 10美金就够了。
  • 100 kilometers is a long way. 100千米是一段很长的路。
  • Ten thousand pounds is a lot of money.
  • Fifty miles is not a great distance.

• 加减乘除运算中的谓语动词用单数，其中加法和乘法也可用复数。

  • Two and two is/are four. 2加2等于4。
  • Six times one is/are six. 6乘以1等于6。

• "many a/more than one+单数名词"作主语时，谓语动词用单数。

  • There is more than one answer.有不止一个答案。
  • Many a student has passed the exam.许多学生通过了考试。

• "one and a half+复数名"

  • One and a half days is all I can spare.一天半是我所能支配的全部时间。
  • One and a half pears is left on the plate.一个半梨被留在盘子里。

• the rest of ... 短语作主语时，如果 of 后接复数名词，谓语用复数；如果 of 后接不可数名词，谓语用单数。

  • The rest of the bikes are on sale.余下的自动车降价出售。
  • The rest of the bread is gone.剩余的面包不见了。

• "none of+复数名词"作主语时，谓语动词既可以用单数也可以用复数。

  • None of the dogs was/were there. 那儿没有狗。
  • None of us has got a camera.

• "a number of+名词复数"表示“许多/大量的...”，其后的谓语动词用复数；“the number of+名词复数”表示“...的数量”，其中心词为 number，故谓语动词用单数。

  • A number of farmers are standing over there. 许多农民站在那边。
  • The number of the students in this school has reached over 2,000. 这所学校的学生数量已达到2000多人。

• ”a lot of/lots of/plenty of+名词“作主语，谓语动词由 of 后的名词来确定。如果 of 后是不可数名词，谓语动词用单数；如果 of 后是复数名词，谓语动词用复数。

  • A lot of time is needed. 需要大量的时间。
  • Plenty of workers are working. 许多人在工作。

动名词、不定式或从句作主语时，谓语一般用单数。

• Doing morning exercises is good for your body. 做早操对你的身体有益。
• To play with fire near a gas station is very dangerous. 在加油站附近玩火很危险。
• What he said at the meeting is very important. 他在会上的发言很重要。