Lecture 2 Lecture 2 Subject-verb ConcordSubject-verb Concord

1.Guiding Principles1.Guiding Principles1)1) Grammatical ConcordGrammatical Concord2)2) Notional Concord Notional Concord3)3) Proximity Proximity 2. Problems of concord with nouns ending 2. Problems of concord with nouns ending in in –s–s3. Problems of concord with collective nouns as 3. Problems of concord with collective nouns as

subjectsubject

The principle of grammatical concord refers to the rule The principle of grammatical concord refers to the rule that the verb must match its subject in number. If the that the verb must match its subject in number. If the

subject is plural, the verb should take the plural form; if, subject is plural, the verb should take the plural form; if, on the other hand, the subject is singular or is a mass on the other hand, the subject is singular or is a mass

noun, the verb should take the singular form, noun, the verb should take the singular form, eg:eg:

TheyThey havehave their own merits.their own merits. Every boyEvery boy comescomes on time.on time. Much moneyMuch money isis wasted.wasted.

The principle of notional concord refers to the rule that the The principle of notional concord refers to the rule that the verb can sometimes agree with the subject according to verb can sometimes agree with the subject according to

the notion of number rather than to the actual presence of the notion of number rather than to the actual presence of the grammatical marker for that notion, the grammatical marker for that notion,

eg:eg:

The governmentThe government havehave asked the country to decide by a asked the country to decide by a

vote. vote. Sixteen milesSixteen miles seemsseems like a long walk to me.like a long walk to me.

The principle of proximity denotes agreement of The principle of proximity denotes agreement of the verb with a closely preceding noun phrase in the verb with a closely preceding noun phrase in

preference to agreement with the head of the noun preference to agreement with the head of the noun phrase that functions as subject,phrase that functions as subject,

eg: eg:

Either my brothers or my fatherEither my brothers or my father is is coming.coming. No one except his own supportersNo one except his own supporters agreeagree with with

him.him. Neither Julia nor INeither Julia nor I amam going.going.

1)1) Disease and game names ending in –sDisease and game names ending in –s 2) 2) Subject names ending in –icsSubject names ending in –ics 3) 3) Geographical names endings in –sGeographical names endings in –s 4) 4) Other nouns ending in -sOther nouns ending in -s

Arthritis Arthritis （关节炎） （关节炎） , bronchitis , bronchitis （支气（支气管炎） 管炎） , diabetes , diabetes （糖尿病） （糖尿病） , mumps , mumps （腮腺炎） （腮腺炎） , phlebitis , phlebitis （静脉炎） （静脉炎） , rickets , rickets （软骨病） （软骨病） , , 这类以 这类以 -s -s 结尾的疾病名称作结尾的疾病名称作主语时，谓语动词通常用作 单数 。主语时，谓语动词通常用作 单数 。

Arthritis Arthritis causescauses great pain in the joints of t great pain in the joints of the patient. he patient.

The diabetes The diabetes isis a kind of chronic disease. a kind of chronic disease.

某些以 某些以 -ics -ics 结尾的学科名称作主语时，如 结尾的学科名称作主语时，如 physics, physics, mathematics, mechanics, optics, acoustics, politics mathematics, mechanics, optics, acoustics, politics statistics, economics, linguistics, athletics statistics, economics, linguistics, athletics 等 等 , , 谓语动谓语动

词通词通常用作 单 数。 常用作 单 数。 e.g. e.g. Physics is a fundamental subject in science. Physics is a fundamental subject in science. The third world economics is promising. The third world economics is promising. Mathematics is an interesting subject. Mathematics is an interesting subject. Athletics is a required course for students of all gradeAthletics is a required course for students of all grade

s. s. 但如果这类名词表示学科以外的其它含义，可作复数用 但如果这类名词表示学科以外的其它含义，可作复数用 e.g. e.g. Athletics Athletics （体育运动） （体育运动） have been greatly encouraged have been greatly encouraged

at at this college. this college. The economics The economics （经济效益） （经济效益） of the project are still at of the project are still at issueissue. .

某些以 某些以 -s -s 结尾的地理名称，如果是 国名 ，如 结尾的地理名称，如果是 国名 ，如 the United the United States States ， ， the Netherlands the Netherlands 等，因其是单一政治实体，等，因其是单一政治实体，所以谓语动词用作 单数 。 所以谓语动词用作 单数 。 e.g. e.g. The United States was hit by the Great Depression in 1The United States was hit by the Great Depression in 1

930s'. 930s'. In early January 1996 the Netherlands was hit by its wIn early January 1996 the Netherlands was hit by its w

orst storm since 1976. orst storm since 1976. 但如果是 群岛、山脉、海峡、瀑布 等地理名称作主语，谓语但如果是 群岛、山脉、海峡、瀑布 等地理名称作主语，谓语动词用作 复数 。 动词用作 复数 。 e.g. e.g. The Himalayas have a magnificent variety of plant. The Himalayas have a magnificent variety of plant. The Straits of Gibraltar have not lost their strategic iThe Straits of Gibraltar have not lost their strategic i

mportance. mportance. The Niagara Falls are perhaps the most splendid wateThe Niagara Falls are perhaps the most splendid wate

rfall in the world. rfall in the world.

英语中还有一些以 英语中还有一些以 - s - s 结尾的名词，如 结尾的名词，如 archives archives ， ， arms, clothes, contents, eaves, fireworks, goods, arms, clothes, contents, eaves, fireworks, goods, minutes, morals, remains stairs, suburbs, thanks, minutes, morals, remains stairs, suburbs, thanks, wages wages 这类名词作主语时，谓语动词通常用复数。 这类名词作主语时，谓语动词通常用复数。 e.g. e.g. The archives of the country are kept in the DeparThe archives of the country are kept in the Depar

tment of Security. tment of Security. The contents of the book are most amusing. The contents of the book are most amusing. High wages often result in high prices. High wages often result in high prices. My thanks are sincere. My thanks are sincere.

audience, committee, crew, family, government, jury audience, committee, crew, family, government, jury 等。 等。

谓语动词的数取决于主语的意义： 谓语动词的数取决于主语的意义： 主语表示整体时视为单数，谓语动词用 单数； 主语表示整体时视为单数，谓语动词用 单数； 主语表示集体中的个体成员时视为复数，谓语动词用 复数。 主语表示集体中的个体成员时视为复数，谓语动词用 复数。 The audience was/were enthusiastic on the opening The audience was/were enthusiastic on the opening

night of the play. night of the play. The committee has/have decided to dismiss him. The committee has/have decided to dismiss him. 4) 4) 如果主语是由 如果主语是由 a committee of /a panel of /a (the) boara committee of /a panel of /a (the) boar

d of + d of + 复数名词 构成，随后的动词通常用 单数 。 复数名词 构成，随后的动词通常用 单数 。 A committee of twelve men is to discuss the matter. A committee of twelve men is to discuss the matter. A panel of experts has considered the situation. A panel of experts has considered the situation.

ConclusionConclusionThe concepts of three principles guiding The concepts of three principles guiding

subject-verb concord: grammatical concord, subject-verb concord: grammatical concord, notional concord and proximity concord. notional concord and proximity concord.

Assignment Assignment

1. Exercise 2A 2B1. Exercise 2A 2B2. Remember the rules and practice more2. Remember the rules and practice more