英語的動詞必須在人稱(person)、數(shù)目(number)、性別( gender)和格(case)這些方面和主語取得一致或互相呼應(yīng)。

在學(xué)生的英文作文中，動詞與主語呼應(yīng)上的錯(cuò)誤，經(jīng)常出現(xiàn)。

下面這句話來自一個(gè)重要的公共部門的通告，里面也出現(xiàn)了動詞與主語不一致的錯(cuò)誤：

ABC corporation, with its five main subsidiary companies, have taken over the operations of the previous electricity and gas departments of XXX with effect from 1 october 1995.

這里的主語是“ABC corporation”，它是單數(shù)的，動詞也應(yīng)該是單數(shù)的 has，不是復(fù)數(shù)的 have，因此犯了動詞與主語不對應(yīng)的錯(cuò)誤。

既然這是個(gè)常見的錯(cuò)誤，我們便要特別留意，并且記住下面這些指導(dǎo)原則：

●動詞和主語在人稱和數(shù)目上要一致，如：

① I am a writer.

② Helen is an editor.

③ They have a good future.

④ Dr Chen teaches us English.

⑤ Some old houses were burnt to the ground.

⑥ A deserted hut has already been demolished.

●兩個(gè)或兩個(gè)以上的單數(shù)主語由連接詞“and”貫串起來時(shí)，便成了復(fù)數(shù)，動詞也要復(fù)數(shù)，如：

⑦ David and Jason are colleagues.

⑧The driver and the passenger were involved in a quarrel.

●兩個(gè)主語由“with”或“as well as ”等連接時(shí)，動詞要和第一個(gè)主語的人稱及數(shù)目呼應(yīng)，如：

⑨ A woman with her puppies is walking along the lake.

⑩ The monitor as well as the other students has been scolded.

●兩個(gè)主語由“either……or”或“neither……nor”連接時(shí)，動詞要和第二個(gè)主語的人稱及數(shù)目呼應(yīng)，如：

11. Either you or your friend is wrong.

12. Neither John nor his classmates have said it.

●集合名詞(collective noun)當(dāng)整體看待時(shí)，動詞是單數(shù)，如：

13. The steering committee is made up of five members.

14. The jury has made its final decision.

有時(shí)可以個(gè)別看待集合名詞里的成員，這時(shí)這些成員合起來便變成復(fù)數(shù)，動詞也是復(fù)數(shù)了，如：

15. The committee have met once and they will meet again next month.

16. Despite hours of deliberations, the jury were still divided in their opinions.