What are the three principles governing the subject-verb agreement in English?

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Whatarethethreeprinciplesgoverningthesubject-verbagreementinEnglish?Whatarethethreeprinciplesgoverni

What are the three principles governing the subject-verb agreement in English?
What are the three principles governing the subject-verb agreement in English?

What are the three principles governing the subject-verb agreement in English?
主谓一致涉及三个基本原则,即语法一致原则(principle of grammatical concord)、意义一致原则(principle of notional concord)和就近原则(principle of proximity).
A.语法一致
语法一致是指主语和谓语在单复数形式上的一致关系,主语为单数形式,谓语动词用单数形式;反之,谓语动词用复数形式.
My child has no intention of spending a vacation with me.我的孩子不想与我一起度假.
My children have no intention of spending a vacation with me.我的孩子们不想与我一起度假.
B.意义一致
意义一致是说谓语动词的单、复数要取决于主语所表达的概念,而不取决于表面上的语法标记.
1.主语形式虽为单数,但意义为复数,谓语动词用复数.
The only people who are interested in the book seem to be lawyers.唯一对这本书感兴趣的人好像是律师.
The majority of primary school teachers are women.大多数小学老师都是女的.
2.主语形式为复数,而意义上却是单数,谓语动词用单数.
No news is good news.没有消息就是好消息.
Billiards is becoming more and more popular in some cities.桌球在一些城市里越来越受欢迎.
C.就近原则
就近原则是指当主语由两个或两个以上名词或代词组成时,谓语动词的数要与它紧邻的名词或代词的数一致.
There is a square table and some chairs in the center of the dining-room.餐厅中央有一张方桌和几把椅子.
Either your students or William knows this.不是你的学生就是威廉知道这件事.
注意:
一般说来,究竟何时采用何种原则,应视英语习惯用法而定.但在实际使用中,如果对上述三种原则捉摸不定,遵循语法一致的原则是一种比较稳妥的方法.