What we need...作主语时的主谓一致

比较下面两句:

What we need is more time.

What we need are doctors.

为什么一句用单数,一句用复数?

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最佳答案 2018-05-10 09:05

同意曹老师的解答。

看来xiaowuya520网友对主语从句的主谓一致还不甚了解,在此引用章振邦《新编英语语法概要》中的一个章节供参考:

4.5 A wh-分句和that-分句作主语

所谓wh-分句,就是由wh-疑问词(what, who, why, how, whether)引导的名词性从句。这类分句作主语,其谓语动词通常用单数。例如:

What caused the accident is a complete mystery.

Who was responsible for the accident is not yet clear.

Why she did this is not known.

How the book will sell depends on its author.

Whether she comes or not doesn't concern me.

两个由and连接的名词性分句作主语,如果表示两件事情,其谓语动词用复数。例如:

What caused the accient and who was responsible for it remian a mystery to us.(造成事故的原因是什么,谁应对事故负责任,对我们来说还是一个谜。)

在以what-分句作主语的SVC结构中,如果主语的补足语是复数名词,主语的谓语动词也可用复数,。例如:

What they want are financial aids.(经济援助).

What was real to him were the details of his life.

如果what分句的动词和补语都是复数,主句的谓语动词也可用复数:

What are often regarded as poisonous fungi(有毒的“真菌”)are sometimes safely edible(可以安全食用)。

What appear to be large windows in the second story are glass heat collectors(玻璃集热器).

当what-分句是一个带有复数意义的并列结构时,主句谓语动词用复数:

What I say and think are no business of yours.(我说的和我想的不关你的事。)

在这里,what I say and think = what I say and what I think,指的事两个分离的过程,所以主句用复数。

名词性that-分句作主语通常用于先行it结构。例如:

It was obvious that the driver could not contrl his car.

It is sheer luck (纯然运气)that he is still alive.

但在正式语体的一定上下文中,为了强调that-分句的内容也可将that-分句直接置于主语的位置。

例如:

There is not the remotest possibility of anbyone's calling upon me, and that I should call upon anyone else is a thing undreamt of.(有人访问我的可能性极小,而我去访问别人则是做梦也没有想过的事。)

由上述诸例可以看出,不管是置于句首或句末,以that-分句作主语,主句谓语动词通常用单数。


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其它 1 个回答

曹荣禄  
擅长:动词用法,句法问题

what在主语从句中作宾语,主句为主系表结构,名词作表语时,主句谓语的数由表语的数决定。第一句表语为more time,故谓语用is。第二句表语为doctors,故谓语用are。

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  • xiaowuya520 提出于 2018-03-20 00:04

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