在英语中能够充当主语的成分很多，如何使它和谓语动词保持人称、数上的一致，这不但是英语学习的一个重要课题，也是历来高考拟题关注的热点。本文就此课题作一粗浅的探讨和归纳，也对这个不可忽视的热点进一步地关注。笔者根据多年的教学实践认为，高考对主谓一致的考查有三个明显的特点：1.考查基本的主谓一致规则，这在近几年的短文改错中尤显突出。2.增加试题的综合性，考查主谓一致的同时考查其它知识。3.增加试题的语境化因素。因此，理清头绪，掌握规律，兼顾特殊是攻克这一难关的有效方法。现将我们已掌握的有关主谓一致的知识与高考题例结合起来，以便更深刻地理解这一知识点。

　　一、就近原则

　　由连词or，either...or...，nei-ther...nor...，notonly...butalso...，not...but...，whether...or...连接并列主语，动词与靠近的主语保持一致。

　　1)Either you or he is completely wrong.

　　2)Not the students but the teacher is hoping to go there.

　　3)He or his brothers are coming here this afternoon.

　　4)Not only I but also Jane and Mary tired of having one exam ination after another.(MET89)

　　A.is

　　B.are

　　C.am

　　D.be(答案B)

　　5)Either you or the headmaster_____ the prizes to these gifted students at them eeting.(94年上海卷)

　　A.is handing out

　　B.are to hand out

　　C.are handing out

　　D.is to hand out(答案D)

　　二、形式一致

　　1.由and连接不同的并列主语时，谓语动词用复数；但并列主语指同一概念、同一事物或同一人物时，用单数。

　　1)Plastics and rubber never rot.

　　2)Bread and butter is his diet.

　　3)Too much work and too little rest often leads to illness.

　　4)The famous writer and professor was born in Shanghai.(指同一人，作家兼教授)

　　5)The famous writer and the professor are going to give us a talk on American history tomorrow.(指两个人，作家和教授)

　　如果并列名词被every，each，no等修饰，谓语动词也为单数。every-，some-，any-，no-等构成的复合不定代词作主语时，谓语动词为单数。

　　1)Every man and every woman is at work.

　　2)Each boy and each girl has got a seat.

　　3)No sound and(no)voice is heard.

　　4)Anyone who breaks the rule will be punished.

　　5)I'll tell you something that does sound strange.

　　6)The fire spread through the hotel very quickly but everyone _____ get out.(NMET97)

　　A.had to

　　B.would

　　C.could

　　D.was able to(答案D)(文/江苏前黄高级中学 殷美娟；英语通高一版2003年第7期)