(2)Subject-verbConcord

1、Lecture Two Generally speaking, the grammatical principle applies toformal English; on the other hand, the notional principleand the principle of proximity, play an auxiliary role in supporting the grammatical principle in informal English.2.1 Guiding principles The subject-verb concord refers to th

2、e agreement between subject and predicate verb in number (the number concord between subject and verb). There are three principles of subject-verb concord: grammatical concord(语法一致原则), notional concord(意义一致原则) and proximity(就近原则).1) Grammatical concord The principle of grammatical concord refers to

3、the rule that the verb must match its subject in number. If the subject is plural, the verb should take the plural form; if, on the other hand, the subject is singular or is an uncountable noun, the verb should take the singular form. e.g.: A friend in need is a friend indeed. Every man has his faul

4、ts. Tall trees catch much wind. Faults are thick where love is thin. Bad news has wings. Money isnt everything.一朝情意淡，样样不顺眼。一朝情意淡，样样不顺眼。2) Notional concord The principle of notional concord refers to the rule that the verb agrees with the subject according to the notion of number. e.g.: This class co

5、nsists of 45 pupils. This class are reading English now. It was too late, but the audience was increasing. The audience were all moved to tears. His family is a great one. His family are fat and short. 3) Proximity It denotes agreement of the verb with a closely preced- ing NP in preference to agree

6、ment with the head of the NP that functions as subject.e.g.: Either you or I am mad. Not only his children but he himself was lost. Not you but your father is to blame. (类似的其它连接词类似的其它连接词: neithernor, whetheror, or, 等。等。) There is an eraser, a few envelops and one ruler on the desk. Here is a pen, a

7、pair of compasses and some paper for you. On the left of each person is a fork, a plate and a table-napkin. (在倒装句中在倒装句中, 谓语与后面第一个主语保持一致谓语与后面第一个主语保持一致) 2.2 Problems of concord with nouns ending in -s They are generally treated as singular. 1) Game names ending in -s There are quite a few nouns that e

8、nd in -s but which are not countable. Some of these nouns are treated as singular, some as plural, and some either as singular or as plural. Nouns in -s denoting games: gymnastics, rings(吊环), tennis, billiards(台球), bowls(保龄球), skittles(撞柱戏), marbles(弹子游戏), dominoes(多米诺牌), draughts (国际跳棋), 等等等等, 作为一种

9、游戏解时是单数作为一种游戏解时是单数, 而而作为个作为个体的数量则可用作复数体的数量则可用作复数。 (cards: plural) They are generally treated as singular. 2) Disease names ending in -s Nouns in -s denoting diseases: shingles(带状疱疹), dermatitis(皮炎), psoriasis(牛皮癣), scabies(疥疮), ephelis (雀斑), hives(荨麻疹), tetanus(破伤风), keratitis(角膜炎), syphilis(梅毒), ra

10、bies(狂犬病), meningitis(脑膜炎), iritis(虹膜炎), tinnitus(耳鸣), gingivitis(牙龈炎), pharyngitis(咽炎), amygdalitis/tonsillitis(扁桃体炎), tuberculosis/phtisis (肺结核), pancreatitis(胰腺炎), pleuritis(胸膜炎), hepatitis(肝炎), gastritis(胃炎), enteritis(肠炎), poliomyelitis(脊髓灰质炎), peritonitis(腹膜炎), cholelithiasis(胆石症), cholecystit

11、is(胆囊炎), prostatitis(前列腺炎), nephritis(肾炎), phlebitis(静脉炎), angiitis(脉管炎), appendicitis(阑尾炎) piles(痔疮) (measles/rickets: singular/ plural)3) Subject names ending in -s They are generally treated as singular nouns: ethics, linguistics, phonetics, semantics, pragmatics, syntactics, electronics, physics

12、, classics (古典文学), genetics (遗传学), logistics (后勤学), astronautics (宇航学), obstetrics (产科学), aerodynamics (空气动力学), thermodynamics (热力学), etc. But some such nouns are treated as plural when used in other senses than subject names: politics (政治观点), mathematics (运算能力), statistics (统计资料, 统计数字), economics (

13、经济效益), etc.e.g.: Statistics is taught in many colleges. Statistics show that 65% of the new businesses have made profits this year.4) Geographical names ending in -s Mountain ranges, straits, water falls such as the Alps, the Rockies, the Highlands (高地,高原; 特指苏格兰高地), the Maldives (马尔代夫岛国), the Balkan

14、s (巴尔干半岛各国), the Bermudas (百慕大三角洲), Victoria Falls, are generally used as plural. e.g.: The Alps rise over four countries. The Rockies have a magnificent variety of plant and animal life. But a few are treated as singular when used as country names. e.g.: the United States, the Netherlands, the Phil

15、ippines, the United Nations e.g.: The Arabian Nights is read all over the world. Somebodies and nobodies was written by Robert W. Fuller in 2004. The New York Times has a wide circulation. (The Times: 泰晤士报(英国) ) People is an influential magazine in America. “Pride goes before a fall” is his motto.Si

16、milarly: Great Expectations (远大前程) Sons and Lovers (儿子与情人) The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (哈克贝利费恩历险记) 5) Names of books, movies, dramas, newspapers, magazines, etc. There are some nouns ending in -s always treated as plurals, such as: congratulations(祝贺词), customs(海关), commons(平民), dregs(残渣, 渣滓)

17、, particulars(详细情节), fireworks(烟花), funds(资金, 基金), amends(赔罪, 赔偿), annals(编年史), bowels(肠), ashes(灰烬), guts(胆量), curtains(幕布), refreshments(提神的点心), brains(头脑), greens(绿叶蔬菜), outskirts(郊区, 郊外), pains(费心, 辛苦), tropics(热带地区), wares(货物, 商品), premises(房屋建筑及附属场地), proceeds(收益, 所得), spirits(情绪, 心情), livingq

18、uarters(住宅区), valuables(贵重物品), terms (条件), damages(损害赔偿金), likes(喜好), riches(财富), suds(肥皂泡沫), clothes, goods, etc. 这类名词用于某些特殊意义时这类名词用于某些特殊意义时, 只有复数形式只有复数形式, 作主语作主语时时, 动词用动词用复数形式复数形式。 6) Other nouns ending in -s There are also nouns such as barracks, headquarters and works whose singular and plural n

19、umber share the same form. These nouns are treated as plural when used in the plural sense, or vice versa. e.g.: a barracks, two barracks; a cement works, two cement works Things made of two parts are usu. used as plural. Names of tools and articles of dress consisting of two equal parts: binoculars

20、(双筒望远镜), compasses (圆规), scales(天平), calipers(测径器,双脚规), clippers(指甲刀), earphones(耳机), spectacles(眼镜), shades(太阳眼镜, 墨镜), forceps(手术钳), pliers(钳子, 老虎钳), shears(大剪刀), tongs(夹钳, 火钳), tweezers(镊子), braces(裤子背带), breeches(马裤), flares(喇叭裤), slacks(宽松的长裤, 便裤), pants(裤子, 内裤), jeans(牛仔裤), knickers(短裤, 衬裤), ti

21、ghts(紧身裤), underpants(内裤, 衬裤), trunks (游泳裤), slippers(拖鞋), socks(袜子), leggings(护腿), etc.e.g.: My sunglasses were broken. Scales are used for weighing objects. But when they are preceded by such unit nouns as a / one / the / this / that pair of, the number form of the following verb is singular. (two

22、 pairs of: plural) The pair of flares costs 10 yuan. One/A pair of scissors is Two pairs of scissors are A pair of swans are / is swimming in the lake.The happy pair are / is going to Paris for their honey-moon. Nouns ending in -ings are generally used as plural: belongings(所有物), doings(行为), droppin

23、gs(鸟兽的粪便; 蜡烛的烛泪), diggings(发掘物), furnishings(室内陈设), findings(调查结果), leavings (剩余, 残渣), peelings(土豆 等剥下的皮), pickings(赃物, 不义之财), savings(储蓄), shavings(刨花), winnings(奖金, 赢得的钱), workings(活动方式), writings(作品), etc. e.g.: The surroundings of the house are picturesque. But tidings(消息) / rejoicings(欢庆, 欢宴):

24、both plural and singular)e.g.: The tidings were/was received with shouts of joy. 2.3 Problems of concord with collective nouns as subject Collective nouns are singular in form but plural in mean-ing. Most of them are followed by plural verbs while some of them by singular verbs. 1) The collective no

25、uns that refer to people or animals that have life are regarded as plural: faculty, militia, personnel, clergy, peasantry, people, police, poultry, cattle, vermin(害虫) e.g.: The police have made many arrests because of the drivers high alcoholic content. 2) Collective nouns that refer to things that

26、do not have life are treated as singular: cutlery, jewelery, poetry, merchandise, machinery, scenery, luggage, clothing, furniture, equipment, foliage 3) There are collective nouns that can be used either as plural or as singular. The choice between grammatical and notional concord is mostly dictate

27、d by usage. e.g.: family, class, team, college, committee, army, audience, board, chorus, company, group, enemy, brood, majority, minority, public, band, crew, council, party, government, community, department, congregation, staff, fleet, gang, flock, herd, media, data, cast, navy, opposition, nobil

28、ity, profession, crowd, public, club, orchestra, jury 如被看作一个整体如被看作一个整体, 谓语动词用单数谓语动词用单数; 如被看作组成该如被看作组成该集体的一个个成员集体的一个个成员, 则谓语动词用复数形式。则谓语动词用复数形式。4) the + adjective The subject may also take the form of the +adjective, which is notionally equivalent to a collective noun. With such a subject, the choice

29、between a plural or a singular verb depends on whether the adjective refers to a group of people or to a particular person or an abstract quality. “the + 形容词形容词”要根据意义一致原则决定谓语动词的要根据意义一致原则决定谓语动词的数的形式数的形式, 如果这种主语指的是一类人如果这种主语指的是一类人, 动词用复数动词用复数; 如果指如果指 的是单个人或抽象概念的是单个人或抽象概念, 动词用单数。动词用单数。 the + adjective r

30、eferring to a group of people:e.g.: The rich are becoming richer; the poor poorer. Only the poor know what poverty means. The old are self-conceited because of their rich experience while the young are proud of their youth-fulness. The old care for the young and the young respect the old. The dead w

31、ere buried after the battle. The aged are well taken care of in the village. The brave are honored. (勇敢的人无上光荣。) The sick have been cured and the lost have been found. 常用的表示名词化的形容词有常用的表示名词化的形容词有:the blind/ the brave/ the wise/ the absent/ the weak/ the strong/ the living/ the dead/ the lame/ the dumb

32、/ the capable/ the innocent/ the wounded/ the learned/ the industrious/ the few/ the unemployed/ the accused/ the oppressed/ the condemned / the wretched (穷人) / the injured / the wicked (邪恶的人), etc. the + adjective referring to a particular person:e.g.: There are two men in the room. The old is the

33、youngs father. The deceased was his father, who left him a large sum of money. The departed was a good friend of his. 死者是他的一个好朋友。 The accused was sentenced to death by the court. The condemned (被判刑的人) was moved to another prison. The wounded was carried to the ambulance. were the + adjective referri

34、ng to an abstract quality:e.g.: The new is sure to replace the old. 新生事物一定会代替旧事物。新生事物一定会代替旧事物。 The beautiful is not always the same as the good. 漂亮的不一定就等于好。漂亮的不一定就等于好。 The unknown is usu. feared. 不明之物通常令人害怕。不明之物通常令人害怕。 The agreeable is not always the useful. 好看的不一定实用。好看的不一定实用。 The good in him overweighs the bad. 他的优点大于缺点。他的优点大于缺点。 类似用法的形容词, 如: tru