5.1        Subject-verb Agreement

Day 4    Singular or Plural Verb?

Do you remember which subjects take a singular verb? When should you use a plural verb? Make sure you are familiar with all the examples given in the past two days.

你還記那一個主語要使用單數動詞嗎? 甚麼時候要用複數動詞?你要肯定自己已經牢記著過去兩日所學過的文法呢!

Today, we are going to show you some special cases. You can use either a singular or a plural verb, depending on the meaning. They are much more challenging than those you have learnt on Day 2 and Day 3!

今天，我們將會學習一些特別例子。在那些情況下，有時候可以用單數動詞，有時候可以用複數動詞，視乎要表達的意思。它們將會比過去兩天所學到的文法更具挑戰性。

1.      Collective noun subject: 集體名詞主語

         Collective nouns are sometimes called GROUP NOUNS.

         Group nouns are often followed by OF + PLURAL NOUN.

e.g.

However, there is often a choice between SINGULAR and PLURAL verb after a singular human group noun. Here are some examples of human group nouns: 可是，一般我們都可以在一個單數人物集體名詞後選擇使用單數動詞還是複數動詞。以下是一些數人物集體名詞 :

Although American English speakers favour the singular form, in British English plural subject-verb agreement occurs much more frequently. You can use either a singular or a plural verb depending on your interpretation.

雖然一般美式英語使用者都較喜歡使用單數形式。但在英式英語中複數主謂一致的情況則較常見。所以你可以選用單數或複數動詞，視乎你的詮釋。

2.      With fractions, percentages and the quantifiers all (of), a lot of, lots of :

          當用於分數，百分率和量詞all (of), a lot of, lots of :

3.      Items that have two parts: 有兩部份的物件

   When you use the word ‘pair’, the verb is singular ;

    每當你使用包含‘pair’的名詞時，動詞便使用單數

    but without ‘pair’, the verb is plural : 如果沒有了‘pair’就使用複數。

4.      With there subjects : 當主語是 ‘There’時

5.      With correlative subjects either…or or neither…nor :

   The subject-verb agreement should occur with the subject noun nearest to the verb.

   當主語是either…or 或 neither…nor。我們會按最接近動詞的一個名詞來作準。

6.    With two subjects that are joined by with, together with, along with, as well as, and not others :

       The verb agrees with the first subject.

 當兩個主語是被 with, together with, along with, as well as, 和 not others : 連繫起來，動詞只和第一個主語一致。