1、1What is “subject-verb concord”?2 Grammatical Concord 语法一致原则 Notional Concord 意义一致原则 Principle of Proximity 就近原则3.three guiding principles 33.1 The principle of Grammatical Concord 4Thirty miles seems like a long walk to me.53.2 The principle of Notional Concord 6If the reference of the subject is s
2、ingular, the verb takes the singular form.If the reference of subject is plural, the verb takes the plural form.7vIt was eleven oclock before the family were all in bed.vAll was contrary to her expectation. 8The team _ had their dinner.Fifty dollars _ a large sum of money for such a poor man like me
3、.haveis9It is futile to discuss the matter further, because neither you nor I am going to agree upon anything today. 103.3 the principle of proximity 11vEither he or I am going.vNo one except the two girls were crying.vOne out of five students have passed the exam.12“One of them who were so much aft
4、er dancing with you yesterday,” she presently suggested. -Thomas Hardy Tess of the DUrbervilles13The form of the subject: grammatical concordThe meaning of the subject: notional concordThe distance between the head and the verb: proximity14Please note thatthe principle of grammatical concord is the
5、basic principle, esp. in written English. 154. Some Pitfalls 164.1disease and game names ending in -s 17Marbles _ (be) of different colors and materials.Darts _ (be) thrown to the target. Please note:184.2 subject names ending in ics 19“With costs being significantly less than they were several year
6、s ago, the economics are pretty good,” says George Kadane, head of the company.economincs = profits20His politics _ different from mine. (is, are)The statistics _ nothing in this case. (prove, proves)Please note:21politics = political opinionsstatistics = numerical data22When ics words take the plur
7、al meaning, it has a tendency to go with the definite article or a possessive determiner and refer to specific facts, views, etc.234.3geographical names ending in s 24The Philippines needs capital and technology transfer.The Netherlands has been reclaiming farmlands from water.nation254.4 other noun
8、s ending in s 264.4.1 names for articles made of two parts 27Compare: The scissors _ made of stainless steel. (is, are) The pincers _ put in the drawer. (is, are) The pair of scissors _ very well. (cut, cuts) These two pairs of pincers _ cleaning. (need, needs)284.4.2 nouns usually taking plural end
9、ings 29“remains”遗迹，残余物：is/areThe remains of the meal is/are left on the table.The remains of the ancient city is/are the evidence of its existence and prosperity. His remains were kept in a crystal coffin.30Delaware Mansions is a block of 167 flats opposite the BBC Radio Studios.The Broadway Mansion
10、s (simplified Chinese: 百老汇大厦) is anineteen-floor Art Deco five star hotel, one of the most famous hotels in Shanghai, China.“mansions”314.4.3 nouns ending in ings (verb + ings) 324.4.4 nouns whose singular number and plural number share the same form which ends in -s 33There _ a crossroads several m
11、iles ahead.There _ two crossroads several miles ahead.345.problems of concord with collective nouns 355.1collective nouns usually used as plural 365.2 collective nouns usually as singular 375.3collective nouns either as plural or as singular 38Well, I have heard once or twice that my family has seen
12、 better days.It was eleven oclock before the family were all in bed.-Thomas Hardy: Tess of the DUrbervilles396Problems of concord with subject containing coordinate forms 406.1 “and” / “bothand” 416.1 “and” / “bothand” vBread and milk _ been my breakfast for years.(have, has)vThe Stars and Stripes _
13、 flying from the flagpole.(is, are)vHer lawyer and lifelong friend _ going to betray her. (was, were)vAll work and no play _ Jack a dull boy. (make, makes)42vBread and milk has been my breakfast for years.vThe Stars and Stripes is flying from the flagpole.vHer lawyer and lifelong friend was going to
14、 betray her.vAll work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.43The red and white rose _ beautiful. (is, are)The red and the white rose _ beautiful.44Each boy and each girl _ a book. (has, have)The boys and girls each _ a book.45If each of the element of subject is modified by “each”, “every”, “many a”, “
15、no”, the verb takes the singular form.46Conclusion:If the subject refers to one single thing or person, it is singular.If the subject refers to more than one thing or person, it is plural.476.2“or”, “eitheror”, “nor”,“neithernor”, “not onlybut also A beautiful flower or a glittering star ignites his
16、 imagination. Not a fly nor a mouse survives such a hot day. Not only her husband but also all her visitors are fascinated with her overflowing elegance, sparkling wit and easing naturalness.48Conclusions:The principle of proximity is applied to these constructions.In informal style, “neithernor”, “
17、not onlybut also” can sometimes be regarded as plural. 49Not only Bush but also Kelly is / were criticized for their improper use of body language. Neither Bush nor Kelly was / were good at body language.50Many big cities as well as Shanghai have too many skyscrapers.51Grammar, as well as all the ot
18、her subjects, is very interesting.No one except the two girls was late.No one except his own supporters agrees with him.527problems of concord with expressions of quantity 537.1 concord with expression of definite quantity as subject 547.1.1When a definite quantity is regarded as a single unit, trea
19、ted as singular Seven days is too short for a person who needs a good rest.557.1.2 when used in the sense of the individuals that constitute the quantity, treated as plural He takes out two dollars which look exactly the same, but one of them is a forged note. In Shanghai, you may experience two con
20、secutive days which feel like two seasons.56Two thirds of the land is wasteland.Two thirds of the students are girls.50 percent of my income is used for food.50 percent of my waking hours are used for study.7.1.3 “a fraction of”, “a percentage of”57In these constructions, the form of the verb is det
21、ermined by the noun in the of- phrase.58Five plus / and five _ ten.Five multiplied by / times five _ twenty-five.7.1.4“A plus/and B” “A multiplied by B”59Five plus / and five are / is ten.Five multiplied by / times five are / is twenty-five.60Five fives _ twenty-five.61Five fives are twenty-five.62T
22、en minus five is / makes five.Five from ten is / makes five.Ten divided by five is / makes two. 7.1.5A minus B, A divided by B 63One in / out of eight of the children is given an apple.7.1.6“one in/out of + plural noun” 64One in / out of eight of the children are given an apple. (informal)65 A kind
23、of rose is depicted in the picture. Roses of this kind are very expensive. These kinds of roses / rose are very expensive. These kind of roses are very expensive.7.2 concord with expression of indefinite quantity as subject 66A/ The majority of children in our class have black eyes.A majority of 57
24、to 43 helps him to win the election. (majority = greater number of votes)678problems of concord with nominal clause as subject 68Who will win the election is still unknown.What caused the accident and who was responsible were a mystery.8.1 nominal wh- clause as subject 69What he wants are some books
25、 and a cup of coffee.What are often regarded as ridiculous are sometimes true.8.2 concord in SVC construction with what- clause as subject 70Conclusion:In the SVC structure, if the complement or the subject contains nouns or other signs of pluralness, the verb can be plural. 719problems of concord i
26、n relative clause关系从句, cleft-sentence分裂句existential sentence存在句 72Alices Adventures in Wonderland is one of the books which expand a childs imagination.My mother is one of those people who believes in fortune telling. (British English)He is the / the only one of the students who knows Latin.9.1 conc
27、ord in relative clause 73It is this woman who has stolen his heart.It is these women who have driven him away.It is I who / that am responsible for it.It is me who / that is responsible for it. (informal style)9.2 concord in cleft-sentence focus element74There was no one to listen to her. There were
28、 a Duck and a Dodo, a Lory and an Eaglet, and several other curious creatures. (the 1st coordinate element)There was a large mushroom and two rabbits.9.3 concord in existential sentencenotional subject 实义主语751) A great many people _ present at the meeting. (was, were)2) A day or two _ enough. (is, a
29、re)3) One or two reasons _ suggested. (is, are)4) Trial and error _ the source of our knowledge. (is, are)5) Early to bed and early to rise _ a man healthy, wealthy and wise. (make, makes)766) American and Dutch beer _ lighter than British. (is, are)7) No teacher and no student _ present. (is, are)8
30、) No one but Jane and Tom _ there then. (was, were)9) He no less than I _ keen to visit the Great Wall. (is, am)10)These type of snakes _ dangerous. (is, are)7711) A number of students _ waiting for the teacher. (is, are)12) The number of illiterates in China _ been decreasing. (has, have)13) The good _ not always beautiful. (is, are)14) I, who _ your friend, will try my best to help you. (is, am)15) In every province of China _ found rich natural resources. (is, are)
