1.用and或both...and连接的两个或两个以上单数的并列主语,谓语动词通常用复数。例如:
Tom and Mike are brothers.
Both Jack and Mary have been given some good books.
如and连接的两个部分是同一人或事物,或当作整体看待时,谓语动词则用单数。例如:
My old friend and classmate works in a hospital.我的同班老朋友在一所医院工作。
2.用and连接的并列主语被each,every或no修饰时,谓语动词通常用单数。例如:
No teacher and no student has come yet.
Soon every man,woman and child was talking about this thing.
3.如果主语的整体可以用he,she,it替代,谓语用第三人称单数形式。例如:
Jim's way of dressing,speaking and using his hands is interesting.吉姆穿着的方式、说话的姿态和用手的习惯都很有趣。
4.谓语的形式取决于主语,而不是其它成分:
(1)主语和谓语的动词之间插入由介词but,between,except,like,with等引导的介词短语,谓语动词要与这些短语前的主语一致。例如:
A woman with two children is coming to the shop.
Nobody except his parents knows of it.
(2)主语和谓语之间插入了分词短语,谓语要与主语一致。例如:
Mr Smith,accompanied by his wife and three children,has just arrived.史密斯先生在他的夫人和三个孩子的陪同下刚到达。
5.两个以上的并列短语或从句作主语,谓语动词的单、复数形式取决于是否把它们当作整体看待。例如:
How she came to be a teacher and what she must do then were often on her mind.她是怎样成为一个教师的,她当时必须做什么,是时常出现在她脑海中的问题。
6.某些单复数同形的动物名词如deer(鹿),fish(鱼),sheep(绵羊)等,它们作主语时,谓语动词用单数还是复数,取决于该名词所表示的数。例如:
There is a sheep under the tree.
There are many sheep on the hill.