主谓一致,顾名思义,就是指英语句子中的谓语动词在数、性、人称、时态等方面要和主语保持一致,这与汉语思维方式有所不同,容易被考生所忽视。高考试题在单项填空和短文改错中经常对此进行考查。下面笔者结合高考试题,对主谓一致的易考点进行归纳,希望能对同学们的复习有所帮助。

　　一、主语与谓语被插入成分分割,这时要跨越插入成分,找到真正的主语。

　　[原题再现]

　　E-mail, as well as telephones, ________an important part in daily communication.

　　A. is playing B. have played C. are playing D. play

　　答案: A

　　二、在“one of + 复数名词 + 定语从句”中,如果定语从句的先行词是复数名词,这时定语从句中的谓语动词的数一般与复数名词保持一致,用复数形式;但在“the only one / every one of + 复数名词+定语从句”中,定语从句的先行词是the only one / every one,定语从句中的谓语动词通常用单数形式。

　　[原题再现]

　　1. He is the only one of the students who ________ a winner of scholarship for three years.

　　A. is B. are C. have been D. has been

　　2. She is one of the few girls who ________ in the kindergarten.

　　A. is well paid B. are well paid C. is paying well D. are paying well

　　答案:1. D 2. B

　　三、主语+with / along with / together with / as well as / besides / except / but / like /unlike / rather than / including等+名词或代词时,谓语动词的数应与前面的主语保持一致。

　　[原题再现]

　　1. Nobody but Jane________ the secret.

　　A. know B. knows C. have known D. is known

　　2. All but one________ here just now.

　　A. is B. was C. has been D. were

　　3. A library with five thousand books________ to the nation as a gift.

　　A. is offered B. has offered C. are offered D. have offered

　　答案: 1. B 2. D 3. A

　　四、由or, either... or... , neither... nor... , not only...but also... , whether...or...等连接并列主语时,常采用就近原则,动词与最靠近的主语保持一致。

　　[原题再现]

　　1. Either you or the headmaster________ the prizes to those gifted students at the meeting.

　　A. is handing out B. are to hand out

　　C. are handing out D. is to hand out

　　2. Not only I but also Jane and Mary________ tired of having one examination after another.

　　A. is B. are C. am D. be

　　答案:1. D 2. B

　　五、 the number of + 复数名词,主语是the number(数量),谓语动词用单数;a number of +复数名词,主语是复数名词,a number of作定语, 相当于many,谓语动词用复数。

　　[原题再现]

　　The number of people invited________ fifty, but a number of them________ absent for different reasons.

　　A. were; was B. was; was

　　C. was; were D. were; were

　　答案: C

　　六、由one, either, neither, each等 + of +复数名词或代词作主语时,谓语动词通常用单数形式。

　　[原题再现]

　　—Each of the students, working hard at his or her lessons, ________ to go to university.

　　—So do I.

　　A. hope B. hopes C. hoping D. hoped

　　答案: B

　　七、分数、百分数作主语时,谓语动词通常与of后面的名词一致。如果是可数名词的复数,谓语动词用复数形式;如果是不可数名词,谓语动词用单数形式。

　　[原题再现]

　　________of the land in that district ________ covered with trees and grass.

　　A. Two fifth; is B. Two fifth; are

　　C. Two fifths; is D. Two fifths; are

　　答案: C

　　八、一些单复数形式相同的名词如means(方法,手段),works(工厂), family(家庭,家庭成员)等作主语时,须根据意义一致的原则,根据具体意思决定谓语动词的单复数形式。

　　[原题再现]

　　Every possible means ________ to prevent the pollution, but the sky is still not clear.

　　A. is used B. are used

　　C. has been used D. have been used

　　答案: C

　　九、动词不定式、动名词以及名词性从句作主语时,谓语动词常用单数形式。

　　[原题再现]

　　1. When and where to go for the on-salary holiday________ yet.

　　A. are not decided

　　B. have not been decided

　　C. is not being decided

　　D. has not been decided

　　2. When and where to build the new factory ________yet.

　　A. is not decided B. are not decided

　　C. has not decided D. have not decided

　　答案:1. D 2. A

　　但what从句作主语而表语是复数时,谓语动词常用复数。例如:

　　What we badly need here are experienced teachers. 我们这里急需的是有经验的教师。

　　主谓一致用法复杂,而且有一些特例,以上所讲的只是高考涉及的一些热点,同学们在学习中应该不断积累,认真总结,这样一定会攻克这一难点。

　　(文/籍万杰；英语辅导报高三版2003-2004学年第9期；版权归英语辅导报社所有，独家网络合作伙伴新浪教育，未经许可，不得以任何形式进行转载。)