★★☆ Subject-Verb Agreement (大陸稱主謂一致性) by Alex 王梓沅老師 ★★☆

大家國中時都學過, 動詞要不要加s, 是由前面的主詞決定. 上了高中以後, 這樣的觀念, 尤其在寫作文當中, 也是一再被強調 (這個規則雖然因為被認為 "理所當然" 已經不是教學主軸, 但因學生錯誤實在太多, 高中老師必須一再強調). 讓人驚訝的是, 其實一直到TOEFL甚至GRE, GMAT都會持續犯 (commit the error persistently).

因此下面整理了Subject-Verb Agreement的幾個規則, 對大家的英文會友實質的幫助！ 不要認為這個東西只對寫作有幫助, 對這東西有正確的概念也會對讀複雜的句子解析時有幫助喔 :)

1. There be 的 be 是單還是複, 是由後面的主詞決定

Ex: There exists a heated debate over...
(後面是a heated debate, 所以前面 exist要加s)

2. 用 Ving 或是 To V當作主詞時, 後面動詞要加 s (除非有用 and 聯繫兩件事)

Ex: Playing video games is fun. (別被games唬)

3. One of...的後面動詞要加s; three of, five of...當然不用

Ex: One of my friends likes to go jogging in the morning.
(別被 friends唬)

4. 記得關代後的動詞要不要s是前面主詞決定

Ex: It is Peter that likes to go jogging in the morning.

5. half of, plenty of, part of + 主詞 --> 後面的動詞是由主詞的countability 所決定

Plenty of information has been provided for us.

(information恆常不可數, 要數請用 a piece of)

6.

1+1等於二: 在 Both A and B的狀況

Ex: Both Tina and I like to go shopping.

1+1不等於二: as well as, together with, besides, rather than

Ex: John, rather than Peter, loves sweets.

7. 遠親不如近鄰

用either...or..., not only...but also, neither...nor...的連接詞連接兩個名詞當主詞時, 記得動詞是跟者後面的名詞

Not only you but also I am planning to study abroad.
Neither Peter nor my sister likes to play the piano.

8. Each, every (everyone, everybody, everything), another, something (someone, somebody), anything (anybody, anyone)....後面動詞恆常要有s

Ex: Everyone has his or her own dream.
Ex: I want to find someone who really likes me.