文法淺釋- (116)

文法淺釋- (116)

文法(grammar)與句型(sentence patterns)

九、 主詞與動詞之一致 (Agreement)

7) Three years in an exotic land seems like a long time. (在異國呆了三年似乎很漫長。)

1.一段時間雖然是用複數主詞,  但若以整體看, 仍須接單數動詞；句中seems = is

·       比較：

Three years have elapsed since he returned from Japan. 他從日本回來已三年。          

 (註： elapse  v. 經過)  * Twelve inches make a foot.  12吋等於一呎。

2. 其他例子：

 Five thousand dollars a month doesn’t go far. 一個月五仟元並不管用。

 Five thousand dollars were spent on the project. 在這項計畫上花了五仟元。

8)  The most appreciated gift was the clothes you sent us. (最令人感激的禮物就是你送給我們的衣服。)

本句主詞是 gift 故接單數動詞；the clothes 作主詞補語 (subjective  complement) 。

通常主詞和主詞補語在數上可以不一致：

The only guide for me was the stars in the night.  我唯一的響導是黑夜

 裏的星星。

= The stars in the night were the only guide for me

9)  My brothers, not I are planning to travel this summer. (今年夏天計畫去旅行的是我弟弟們而不是我。)

1. 當主詞含肯定和否定時，其動詞應與主詞的肯定部分一致：                  

                                                             

2. A +, but not B + V. / A, rather than B + V；動詞須與 A 一致：

Joseph, rather than his colleagues, is a workaholic. Joseph 是一位工作狂， 而不是

他的同事們。

*** 注意：colleague (同事) 與college (大學) 兩字的拚法 ；

alcoholic n. 酒鬼；a. 酒精的 ~beverage 酒類； alcohol   n. 酒精。

【比較】：

You need to become a master of your time rather than a slave to continue

time pressures.

你必須變成時間的主宰而非奴隸，才能繼續承受時間的壓力。

Justin Lai 編

08/21/2015