[误]The stories was written many years ago.
[正]The stories were written many years ago.
[析]作主语的名词、代词或不定式、动名词,它们往往要带有修饰词,这些词可能是形容词,也可能是短语,但谓语动词还是要取决于这个主语的数,要记住的是一个名词不可能在同一句中作两个不同的语法成份,如:book 作了of 的介词宾语则不可能再作主语了。
[误]To read many books are good for you.
[正]To read many books is good for you.
[析]不定式作主语应该看作单数主语。
[误]What he said are right.
[正]What he said is right.
[析]从句作主语一定要按单数主语看待。
[正]The rich is not always happy.
[误]The rich are not always happy.
[析]形容词+定冠词表示一类人,谓语动词应用复数,如:The young are very interested in study and sports
[误]The school master and writer are coming.
[正]The school master and writer is coming.
[析]本句应译为:校长兼作家就要来了。而 The school master and the writer are coming. 则要译为:校长和一个作家要来了。在英语表达法中确实有 The girl and boy are playing on the grass. 这应译为:一个女孩,一个男孩在操场上玩。因为不可能这样两个概念作用在一个人身上。又如:the husband and wife夫妻二人。
[误]You or she go to get some water for us.
[正]You or she goes to get some water for us.
[析]由 or 连接的两个主语应以离谓语动词近的那一个计算其数。这样的用法还有either … or,neither … nor,not only … but also 也有人称作"就近原则"。
[误]The teacher with a lot of students come into the classroom.
[正]The teacher with a lot of students comes into the classroom.
[析]真正的主语是 the teacher, 而 with 短语是伴随状态,不影响主语的数。
[误]My glasses is broken.
[正]My glasses are broken.
[误]This pair of glasses are good.
[正]This pair of glasses is good.
[误]These kinds of butter is good.
[正]These kinds of butter are good.
[析]英语中有些名词只有复数形式,如:glasses 眼镜,shorts 短裤等。如没有量词在前时,要用复数谓语动词,但有了量词之后则要按量词的单复数计算。
[误]One of the boys are going to take part in the match.
[正]One of the boys is going to take part in the match.
[析]One of 结构应以 one 来计算主语的数。
[误]Each sides are full of trees.
[正]Each side is full of trees.
[误]Both side is full of trees.
[正]Both sides are full of trees.
[析]each, either 其后都要加单数名词,而 both 后要加复数名词。如:each,either,another,little,a little, much等作主语时,谓语动词全部要用单数形式。