SubjectVerb Agreement Singular Subjects Alternatives Unusual Singular Subjects

Subject-Verb Agreement • Singular Subjects • Alternatives • Unusual Singular Subjects • Singular and Plural Subjects • There, Here

Singular Subjects • 如下列的字作為句中主詞時，使用單數動詞。 everyone someone anyone no one each everybody somebody anybody nobody either everything something anything nothing neither S V Everyone is here. S V Neither of these books is new.

• Each / Every 由 and 連接的單數主詞，需用 單數動詞。 　　　 S S V Every man and woman is eligible to vote. S S V Each teacher and student has a locker. 　

• It 於句首作為虛主詞時，後接單數動詞。 S V It was the dogs which woke me up. SV It is his grades that worry him.

Alternatives • 緊鄰規則─主詞間由 not only ~ but also， either ~ or ~，neither ~ nor~連接時，動詞 單複數依其緊鄰的主詞而定。 S 1 S 2 V Neither the students nor the teacher is allowed. S 1 S 2 V Either the teacher or the students have your books. S 1 S 2 V Not only the nurses but also the doctor is coming.

• None, all, some, any, most, half, majority等字可作 為單數或複數代名詞。其後若接有名詞，則名 詞的單複數決定動詞的單複數。 S V All of the book has been destroyed. 一本書 S V All of the books have been thrown away. 好幾本書 S V All of the money is in the bank.

Unusual Singular Subjects • 一定量的時間(time)，金錢(money)， 重量(weight)，書籍(volume). . 雖為複 數形，需用單數動詞。 S V Two weeks is enough time for a nice vacation. S V Ten hundred dollars is required as a down payment. S V Twenty gallons of gasoline costs a lot of money.

Singular and Plural Subject • 集合名詞� class, team, police, committee, family, audience, faculty 等，通常視為單數。然若將其 視為個別獨立的成員，則為複數形。由句中代名 詞可窺出此等主詞的性質，而決定動詞單複數。 S V That class has its final test on Friday. S V The class are working on their individual projects.

單複數同型的字，由句中 代名詞或其意涵性質， 而決定動詞的單複數。 S V That species is rare. S V Those species are common. S V That sheep is young. S V Those sheep are old.

There, Here • There, Here 置於句首絕非主詞。 主詞倒裝於動詞之後，動詞的單 複數需視其後的主詞而定。 V S There is no dog in the neighborhood. V S Here are the results of the experiments.