FIRST WEEK
SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT
主詞與動詞一致
VERBS
SINGULAR 單數
PLURAL 複數
SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE + S
( 現在簡單式 + S )
IS
WAS
SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE
used alone or in continuous forms
單獨用或進行式
(
)
used alone or in perfect forms
( 單獨用或完成式
)
HAS
ARE
WERE
HAVE
SUBJECT (主詞)
(1) SINGULAR SUBJECT (Singular noun or singular pronoun)
(2) Either + SINGULAR SUBJECT + or + SINGULAR SUBJECT
PLURAL SUBJECT
(3) Neither + SINGULAR SUBJECT + nor + SINGULAR SUBJECT
PLURAL SUBJECT
(4) SINGULAR SUBJECT + and + SINGULAR SUBJECT
( ONE IDEA--bread and butter, ham and eggs, etc.
special situations in English-speaking culture)
(5) SINGULAR INDEFINITE PRONOUN (everybody, each, somebody, etc.)
(6)
ALL
SOME
NONE
+ of the + SINGULAR NOUN
+
SINGULAR
VERB
SUBJECT (主詞)
(1) PLURAL SUBJECT (plural noun or plural pronoun)
(2) SINGULAR SUBJECT + and + SINGULAR SUBJECT
(3) Either + SINGULAR SUBJECT + or + PLURAL SUBJECT
PLURAL SUBJECT
(4) Neither + SINGULAR SUBJECT + nor + PLURAL SUBJECT
PLURAL SUBJECT
+
PLURAL
VERB
(5) BOTH
FEW
SEVERAL
MANY
(6) ALL
SOME
NOUN
(Plural indefinite pronouns)
+ of the + PLURAL NOUN
BE CAREFUL of the following situations:
One of the people who are talking with Mr. Smith in that corner of the room
subj.
is the new manager of our department.
verb
The stores located just around the corner from our main office often have sales.
subj.
verb
Mr. Brown, who came for an interview yesterday, intends to work for our company
subj.
verb
if we offer a high enough salary.
This is where subject-verb agreement is important.
It helps you to know where
the subject is and which verb is talking about the subject.
Indefinite Pronouns
An indefinite pronoun does not refer to a specific person or thing. The
following indefinite pronouns are the most commonly used:
SINGULAR
anybody
either
anyone
neither
everybody somebody
everyone
nobody
no one
the other
nothing
someone
each
one
another
each other
PLURAL
both
few
many
several
the others
SINGULAR (or) PLURAL
all
none
some
others
Singular indefinite pronouns require singular verbs and, in written
English, are the antecedents of singular personal pronouns.
Everybody
Everyone
Nobody
No one
Either
Neither
Someone
Each
thinks he is going to be given the prize.
Notice that the verb thinks and the pronoun he are third person
singular, as is also the verb is in the above phrase is going to be given. All
of this is determined by the third person indefinite pronoun subject.
The plural indefinite pronouns require plural verbs and are the antecedents of plural personal pronouns.
Both
Few
Many
Several
are going to take their examinations today.
The verb are and the possessive pronoun their are third person plural,
agreeing with the plural indefinite pronoun subject.
All, none, and some may be singular or plural, according to the meaning intended in the sentence.
Amount: Some of the water is in the glasses. Some is in the cups.
None is in the jars. All of the water is in something.
Number: Some of the glasses are empty. All are here.
None of the glasses are full.
Generally, however, some, none, and all referring to uncountable
nouns will take singular verbs.
--From Let’s Write English, Book 1
1968 edition, pp. 23-24
NOTES ON PRESENT CONTINUOUS
Some verbs cannot use the present continuous and must use the
simple present:
be 是，在
consist 組成
own 擁有
suppose 猜想，假定
imagine 猜想，想像，以為
mean 意指，意欲
dislike 不喜歡
love 愛
hate 討厭，憎恨
belong to 屬於
see 看見，了解
hear 聽見
seem 似乎
find 發覺
believe 相信
doubt 懷疑
wonder 覺驚奇，極欲知道
prefer 較喜歡
want 想要
wish 願，希望
mind 介意
appear 似乎
notice 注意到
sound 聽起來
remember 記得
forget 忘記
(dis)agree (不)同意
like 喜歡
care 喜歡，關心
fear 怕
refuse 拒絕
depend 依賴，視——而定
differ 不同
，存在
know 知道，認識
understand 懂
Some verbs have more than one meaning, and the verb with one
of these meanings can use the present continuous while the same
verb with a different meaning cannot use the present continuous
and must use the simple present.
stand meaning 站
can use present continuous.
He is standing by the window.
stand meaning 在 cannot use present continuous.
The school stands on the hill.
lie meaning 臥
can use present continuous.
The dog is lying on the floor.
lie meaning 位於 cannot use present continuous.
Canada lies to the north of America.
have meaning 吃，過，or 使 can use present continuous.
They are having supper.
Are you having a good time?
I am having my house painted.
have meaning 有 cannot use present continuous.
Mr. A has a large house.
feel meaning 健康狀態 or 觸，摸 can use present continuous.
She is feeling better today.
She is feeling the material to see if it is of good quality.
feel meaning 覺得 cannot use the present continuous.
He feels happy.
smell meaning 聞 can use the present continuous.
Mary is smelling the flower.
smell meaning 氣味是 cannot use the present continuous.
The flower smells sweet.
taste meaning 嚐 can use the present continuous.
She is tasting the soup.
taste meaning 味道是 cannot use the present continuous.
The soup tastes good.
think meaning 思考 or 想念 can use the present continuous.
What are you thinking about?
He is thinking of home.
think meaning 想，以為 cannot use the present continuous.
She thinks that is a good movie.
--Adapted from 新英文法,柯旗化編著,
1979ed., pp.296-300.