第三节 英语名词语法特点——英语学习的基础

一般说来，专业硕士联考中涉及名词的考察主要是两方面，一是考察大家的名词词汇量，包括普通名词和商务名词，而对名词语法的考察主要是针对主谓一致概念的灵活性，即根据主语形式判断谓语（一般意义上的主谓一致），根据谓语形式确定主语的形式，包括选择修饰名词的合适的限定词以及部分名词数的特殊的表达法。考生一般认为，单数形式的主语就用单数形式的谓语动词，而事实上，单数形式的主语可以采用复数形式的谓语动词，复数形式的主语也可以拥有单数形式的谓语动词与其对应。

专业硕士联考中涉及名词语法的主要包括以下几个方面：（1）修饰名词的限定词；（2）部分名词的数的特殊表达法；（3）主谓一致关系。

一、修饰名词的限定词

1．只能修饰可数名词的限定词，其谓语部分常用复数。

many, a number of, several, both, a couple of, few（fewer—fewest）

2．只能修饰不可数名词的限定词，其谓语部分常用单数。

much, a great deal of, a large amount of, little（less—least）

3．既能修饰可数名词又能修饰不可数名词的限定词，其谓语单复数看具体情况而定。

a lot of, lots of, plenty of, some, most, all

e. g. All of us are going to see the game.

All of his time was spent on gambling.

Three-fourths of the people are illiterate.

4．下列不定代词短语修饰名词时，名词前必须有定冠词“the”。

谓语动词的数取决于该名词的单复数。同例：plenty of..., one fourth of..., none of..., some of..., majority of..., ...percent of..., the rest of..., reminder of...., most of, all of, some of, many of, much of, ...

e. g. Most of the books are interesting.

二、名词的数（注意少数名词单复数的特殊表达法和特殊用法）

（一）少数名词单复数的特殊表达法

1．特殊复数形式的名词：（注意其拼写与读音）

2．以-o结尾的名词一般加-s；但是以下五个词须加-es，如：

echo-echoes; hero-heroes; Negro-Negroes; potato-potatoes; tomato-tomatoes

3．沿用古英语复数形式的名词

child-children儿童；foot-feet脚；英尺；goose-geese鹅

louse-lice虱子；man-men男人；mouse-mice老鼠

ox-oxen牛；tooth-teeth牙齿；woman-women女人

4．复合名词的复数形式

1）在中心词后加s

looker-on—lookers-on旁观者；passer-by—passers-by过路人

runner-up—runners-up亚军；comrade-in-arms—comrades-in-arms战友

editor-in-chief—editors-in-chief总编辑；mother-in-law—mothers-in-law岳母；婆母

2）在最后一个词后加s

film-goer—film-goers爱看电影的人；go-between—go-betweens中间人

grown-up—grown-ups成年人；good-for-nothing—good-for-nothings没用的人

3）构成复合词的每个部分都变成复数

man teacher—men teachers男教师；woman player—women players女运动员

（二）少数名词单复数的特殊用法

1．容易用为复数的不可数名词（这些名词一般不能用作复数，谓语动词用单数）

advice 建议，忠告

equipment 装备，设备

furniture 家具，设备

information 通知；信息

knowledge 知识，学问

baggage/luggage 行李，皮箱

cash 现金

apparatus 仪器

clothing 衣服

paper 纸，钞票

technology 工艺，技术

living 生活，生计

progress 前进，发展

scenery 风景，景色

machinery 机器，机械

traffic 交通流量

trouble 烦恼，麻烦

thunder 雷声，轰隆声

weather 天气，处境

work 工作，劳动

luck 运气，幸运

jewelry 珠宝

2．复数形式的名词用于单数概念，其谓语动词用单数。（这些名词一般为表示学科或疾病的名词）

economics 经济学

physics 物理学

mathematics 数学

dynamics 动力学

The United States 美国

measles 麻疹

mumps 腮腺炎

rickets 软骨病，佝偻病

news 新闻

The New York Times 纽约时报

3．单复数相同的名词（谓语动词视具体情况而定）

deer 鹿

sheep 羊，绵羊

fish 鱼

Chinese 汉语（单），中国人（复）

ethics 伦理学（单）；道德行为（复）

means 手段，方法

series 连续，系列

species 种类

works 工厂；作品

statistics 统计学（单）；数据（复）

4．单数形式表示复数意义或总是用于复数的名词（谓语动词用复数）

cattle 牲畜

herd 牧群

militia 民兵

police 警察

people 人民

trousers 裤子

jeans 工装裤

gloves 手套

stockings 袜子

socks 短袜

scissors 剪刀

spectacles 眼睛

compasses 圆规

earnings 收入

findings 调查结果

savings 积蓄

belongings 所有物

surroundings 环境

lodgings 住所

troops 军队

goods 商品

regards 问候

Philippines 菲律宾群岛

funds 基金

pains 辛苦

alms 施舍，救济物

5．既可用作单数又可用作复数但意义不同的名词

air 空气

arm 手臂

art 艺术

authority 权力；权威

brain 大脑

chain 链（条）

compliment 恭维；称赞

condition 状况，状态

congratulation 祝贺

content 内容；容量；满足

convenience 便利，方便

custom 习俗

damage 损害；毁坏

finding 发现，发现物

force 力；力量；势力

glass 玻璃

airs 风度，架势

arms 武器

arts 文科；人文科学

authorities 官方；当局

brains 智力

chains 镣铐

compliments 问候；致意

conditions 条件；环境，形势

congratulations 祝贺词

contents 目录

conveniences 便利设备

customs 海关

damages 赔偿费

findings 调查（研究）结果

forces 兵力；军队

glasses 眼镜

height 高；高度

humanity 人类；人性

import 进口；输入

interest 兴趣；关心；利息

instruction 指导；指示

lesson 功课；课

liability 责任；义务

manner 举止；方式

mass 大量；团，块

measure 尺寸，大小

minute 分钟

necessity 必要/必然性；需要

observation 观察；监视

pain 疼痛

paper 纸

poll 民意测验

proceeding 行动；进行

provision 供应；准备；规定

quarter 四分之一

rail 栏杆，围栏

respect 尊敬，尊重

ruin 毁灭，崩溃

saving 储蓄

slack 淡季，萧条

specification 详述

spirit 精神，气概

sport 运动

teaching 教学

term 学期，期限

thing 东西，物

time 时间

ton 吨

sand 沙子

transaction 处理；交易，事物

water 水

wood 木头

communication 通信；交流

light 光

heights 高地/处

humanities 人文科学

imports 进口商品；要旨，含义

interests 利益；利害

instructions 用法说明（书）；操作指南

lessons 课程；教训

liabilities 债务

manners 礼貌，风度；规矩，风俗

masses 群众；质量

measures 措施，办法

minutes 会议记录

necessities 必需品

observations 观察资料或报告；言论

pains 努力，辛劳

papers 文件

polls 政治选举，大选

proceedings 会议录；学报

provisions 给养，口粮

quarters 方向；地区；住处

rails 铁路；轨道

respects 敬意，问候

ruins 废墟，遗迹

savings 储蓄金，存款

slacks 便裤，运动裤

specifications 规格，说明书，规范

spirits 情绪，心情；酒精

sports 运动会

teachings 教导，学说

terms 条件，条款；术语

things 用品；事态，情况

times 时代

tons 大量，许多

sands 沙滩

transactions 会报，学报

waters 水域，河道

woods 树林

communications 交通工具，通信系统

lights 灯

virtue 美德

work 工作；职业；产品

virtues 优点

works 著作；工厂，工场

三、主谓一致关系

英语中，主语和谓语在数、性和格上应该保持一致，但在实际应用中很容易被忽视，尤其是主语和谓语之间出现插入语，或名词非正常形式做主语时，故考试中经常考到主谓一致。除了以上特殊名词谓语有特殊要求外，现将主谓一致的考点归纳如下。

1．复数原则：两个或者两个以上的名词由and连接作主语时，主语由both...and...连接时，谓语动词用复数。

Baseball and swimming are usually summer sports.

Both bread and butter are sold in that grocery．那个杂货店既卖面包，也卖黄油。

2．就近原则：由either...or...; neither...nor...; not only...but also...; ...or...; there be...等引导的主语，谓语动词的单复数取决于最靠近动词的名词的单复数。

Not only the students but also their teacher is invited to attend the party.

3．就远原则：主语，+ as well as+另一个主语，谓语动词的单复数取决于第一个主语的名词的单复数。

My mother, as well as my two brothers, has a key to the office.

我母亲，还有我的两个哥哥都有一把办公室的钥匙。

同例：with...; together with...; along with...; including...; in addition to...; besides...; except...; as much as...; accompanied by...; rather than...；等等

4．单数原则：

1）表示时间、距离、价值、量度的复数名词作主语时谓语动词用单数。

One hundred dollars is a large sum for the poor.

Twenty days have passed since I met her last time.

自从我上次见到她到现在已经过去二十天。（twenty days这里不作整体看待，故谓语动词用复数。）

2）and连接两个名词表示一个概念作主语时，谓语用单数；若表示的是多个不同的概念时，谓语动词用复数。

War and peace is a constant theme in literature.

战争与和平是文学中永恒的主题。（war and peace是一对概念，看作一个主题）

同例：ham and eggs 火腿蛋

law and order

apple pie and ice cream

wheel and axle 轮轴

love and hate

steam and bread

bread and butter

folk and knife

needle and thread

egg and rice 蛋炒饭

The writer and translator is delivering a speech in our university tonight.（指同一个人）

The writer and the translator are delivering a speech in our university tonight.（指两个人）

A black and a white dog are playing in the yard.（指两只狗）

A black and white dog is playing in the yard.（指一只狗）

3）动词不定式、动名词、名词性从句做主语时+单数谓语

Early to bed and early to rise makes one healthy, wealthy and wise.

（指“早睡早起”一件事）

To work hard is necessary.

What I said and did is of no concern to you.

Reading three classical novels and making some social investigations are assignments for the students during the holiday.（注意：指不同性质的两件事，谓语用复数）

4）many a, more than one+单数可数名词，尽管表示复数意义，谓语仍用单数。

Many a student has made such a mistake.

More than one stranger agrees with me.

注意：在“more+复数名词+than one”结构作主语时，谓语动词用复数。More persons than one have been involved．卷入其中的远不止一人。

5）由every...and every...; each...and each...; no...and no...; many a...and many a...等连接的并列主语，谓语动词用单数。

Every man and every woman working here is getting along well with me.

No difficulty and no hardship has discouraged him.

6）a pair of+由两部分物体构成的名词（如：shoes, scissors, glasses, jeans, pants, trousers）作主语时，谓语动词用单数。

My new pair of pants is being altered．我的一条短裤正在改。

7）当主语被one（a）and a half修饰时，谓语动词用单数。

One and a half apples is left on the plate.

8）当主语由a series of..., a portion of..., a species of..., a kind of..., a sequence of..., a chain of..., a piece of...加名词（单数或复数）构成时，谓语用单数。

A series of lectures on psychology is said to be given by Mr. Li.

A large portion of her poems was published after her death.

5．几个例外：

1）a number of（a total of, an average of）+复数名词，谓语动词用复数。

the number of（the total of, the average of）+复数名词，谓语动词用单数。

A total of ten thousand dollars were donated last month.

The total of dollars donated last month was 100,000 dollars.

同例：a/the variety of; a/the group of

2）定语从句的谓语动词注意与先行词保持一致，但注意the only one of...的用法。

One of those men likes to drive fast.

One of those men who like to drive fast is her son.

He is the only one of those men who likes to drive fast.

3）由some, any, no, every构成的复合词如somebody, nothing, nobody, anything, everybody等代词作主语，谓语动词用单数；由each, everyone, no one, either, neither, another, the other作主语时，谓语动词用单数；由either, neither, each, every修饰名词作主语时，谓语动词用单数。如：

More than one example is necessary to make the students understand this rule clearly.

Neither is satisfactory.

Is either of the singers reading now?

4）the+adj/v-ed表示一类人时，用复数谓语动词；表示抽象概念时，谓语动词用单数。

The sick have been cured and the lost have been found.

病人得到了医治，失踪的也找回来了。

同例：the poor/dumb/innocent/guilty/unemployed/aged/oppressed/exploited...

We can do the difficult first. The impossible takes a little longer.

我们先从难题开始，不会的可能花的时间长一些。

The best is yet to come．好戏还在后头。

四、主谓一致专项训练题

1．The growth of part-time and flexible working patterns, and of training and retraining schemes,________more women to take advantage of employment opportunities.

A．have allowed

B．allows

C．allowing

D．allow

2．It is said that John's two daughters or his wife________to the city where he had an accident.

A．going

B．are going

C．were going

D．was going

3．The number of registered participants in this year's marathon was half________.

A．of last year's

B．those of last year's

C．of those of last year

D．that of last year's

4．Every man and every woman working here________with me.

A．is getting along well

B．are getting along well

C．is got along well

D．are got along well

5．Of particular interest to visitors________the large number of bookstores that sell books in different languages.

A．have been

B．are

C．were

D．is

6．The statesman and writer you talked with last month________at today's conference.

A．was present

B．was presenting

C．were present

D．were presenting

7．In their hearts, some American women think it is men's business to earn money and________to spend it.

A．they

B．their

C．them

D．theirs

8．How close parents are to their children________a strong influence on the character of the children.

A．have

B．has

C．having

D．to have

9．A new television series________that they can and should think about career development.

A．teach handicapped children

B．teach handicapping children

C．teaches handicapped children

D．teaching handicapped children

10．This is one of the books that an________authentic story of World War Ⅱ.

A．tell

B．tells

C．is telling

D．are telling

主谓一致专项训练答案及详解：

1．此题中的主语“growth”在作“发展，增长，增大”解释时，是不可数名词，谓语动词应使用第三人称单数形式。所以，应选B．allows。题意：业余和灵活工作模式的增多，以及培训和再培训计划的增加使更多妇女就业。

2．选项中A是动词的非谓语形式，不能考虑；B和C是复数动词，而or的后面是单数名词his wife，动词的形式应与其一致；只有D为单数动词，符合要求。类似情况还有either...or..., neither...nor..., not only...but also...，这些短语连接两个主语时，动词的人称和数一般与最靠近的一个主语相呼应。题意：据说约翰的两个女儿或者他的妻子将前往约翰出事的城市。

3．选项中能代替主语中心词the number的只有that, last year's=last year's registered participants。因此答案为D。题意：登记参加今年马拉松赛跑的人数是去年的一半。

4．选项中C、D为被动语态，不符合题意。原题中and连接两个表示单数含义的词组，动词单复数形式应与离它最近的词组保持一致，故选择A。题意：在这里工作的每个男女都与我相处得很好。

5．句中主语the large number of的中心词number是单数形式，这就决定了谓语动词应当是单数形式。如果主语是a large number of bookstores，动词就需要用复数。A, B, C三个选项都是动词的复数形式，不符合题目要求，只有D选项正确。题意：令参观者特别感兴趣的是，有为数众多的书店出售用各种语言文字出版的图书。

6．句中主语有两个名词：statesman and writer，但前面合用一个定冠词the，所以这是一个人。因此主语应是单数，后面动词只能从单数中挑选，即从A和B中挑选。“出席”某一会议只能用be present表示，所以A为本题正确答案。题意：上个月和你交谈过的那位政治家兼作家出席了今天的会议。

7．根据题意，空格处所填单词的含义应为与men's business并列的women's business。A项they为主格，B项their为所有格，C项them为宾格，D项theirs为表示所有关系的名词性物主代词。应选D。题意：一些美国妇女从心里认为：挣钱是男人们的责任，而花钱则是她们的权利。

8．本句是how引导的从句作主语，凡从句作主语，谓语动词应用单数。故B为正确答案。题意：父母和孩子亲近的程度对孩子的性格有很大影响。

9．名词series单复数同形，此处用作单数，所以选C。题意：一部新的电视连续剧告诉残疾儿童他们可以也应该考虑事业发展。

10．that引导的从句修饰先行词the books，故谓语动词应用复数。选项A为正确答案。题意：这是讲述“二战”真实故事的书的其中一本。