主谓一致说的是主语同谓语之间数的一致性关系,谓语动词的单数或者复数形式通常由主语的单数或者复数来决定。解题方法在于找出主语的核心词,细细分来,包含了四大分类:插入形式的短语,全倒装结构,“there be”句型和both (few, many, several) 。
在插入形式的短语中,做题的方法在于找出“A(主语关键词),举例短语(such as…)/分词短语/介词短语/同位语/不定式等插入成分,谓语动词”的结构,A决定谓语动词的形式。让我们一起来动笔做做以下的一道2006年01月的考题:
The newly elected (A) Prime Minister, to the dismay (B) of opponents from other parties, have argued (C) for the strict regulations of (D) campaign financing. No error (E)
解析:
考点:主谓一致--插入形式的短语:
主语Prime Minister,谓语动词:have argued修改为has argued
(A). newly elected--正确:副词newly修饰分词elected。
(B). to the dismay of opponents--正确:介词词组。
(C). have argued--错误,修改为has argued,判断依据:主语Prime Minister,“to the dismay of opponents from other parties”是插入语。
(D). strict regulations of campaign financing--正确:词组。
(E). No error--因为选项C有误,所以不选E No error。
我们接下来再来看看全倒装结构,在这个结构中, 谓语动词的数的形式由谓语动词后的主语的形式决定,例如:
(1).Out of something grows a market for ... (a market决定动词用单数grows)
(2).At stake, … , is the solvency of the bank ...(the solvency决定be动词用单数is)
In the back of the textbook are (A) a list of words that can be easily learned (B) by those who want to improve (C) their command (D) of English. No error (E)
解析:
考点:主谓一致--全倒装结构:
主语a list of words,谓语动词:are修改为is
(A). are--错误,修改为is。
(B). easily learned--正确:副词easily修饰过去分词learned。
(C). who want to improve为前面的“those”接着的定语从句,就“want”时态和主谓一致来说,都是正确的。
(D). their command of English--正确:词组。
(E). No error--因为选项A有误,所以不选E No error。
第三类是:“there be”句型,“there be”句型中be用单数还是复数,是由后面的真正主语而定,我们一起来看看2008年一月的真题:
SAT January, 2008
There are (A) a short but (B) substantive list of major innovations in American education that resulted from (C) the efforts of (D) mathematician Winifred Merrill. No error (E)
解析:
考点:主谓一致--“there be”句型:
主语a short but substantive of major innovations in American education,谓语动词:are修改为is
(A). are--错误,修改为is,原因:主语a short but substantive of major innovations in American education。
(B). but--正确:平行结构--形容词:short but substantive。
(C). resulted from--正确:resulted from修饰major innovations。
(D). efforts of--正确:词组。
(E). No error--因为选项A有误,所以不选E No error。
一类是both (few, many, several) of,在“both (few, many, several) of + 复数名词”中,谓语用复数,
Both her work on community service project and her dedication to learning (A) has gained (B) Ms. Stevens the respect of (C) the entire (D) faculty. No error (E)
解析:
考点:主谓一致--both (few, many, several) of:
主语both her work on community service project and her dedication to learning,谓语动词:has gained修改为have gained
(A). to learning--正确:her dedication to learning--来自于结构dedication to doing something。
(B). has gained--错误,谓语动词:has gained修改为have gained,原因:主语both her work on community service project and her dedication to learning。
(C). respect of--正确:词组:the respect of the entire faculty。
(D). entire--正确:形容词entire修饰faculty。
(E). No error--因为选项B有误,所以不选E No error
SAT语法考试中的考点主谓一致的分析,就其四大分类:插入形式的短语,全倒装结构,“there be”句型和both (few, many, several) 而言,做题的关键是按照上述所说的语法规则迅速并且准确地找出主语,从而在SAT语法考试中予以制胜。