3Lecture3Subject-verbConcord(II)技术.docVIP

Lecture 3 Subject-verb concord II This lecture deals with problems of concord with a coordinate construction, a quantitative expression, or a nominal clause as subject. 3.1 problems of concord with a coordinate subject The following rules are to be observed in the case of a coordinate subject. 1 Coordination with “and” or “both… and” Coordination by “and” or “both... and” is usually treated as plural when it refers to two or more than two persons / things But it is treated as singular when it refers to only one person or thing. Compare: Both Pauline and bob have gone fishing on Miramar Lake. The secretary and treasurer was absent from the meeting. Ham and eggs is a good breakfast. Elliptical construction with and has a plural mean and the predicate verb takes singular form.eg: Good and bad taste are inculcated by example. What I say and think are no business of yours. When the coordinated noun phrases by and are preceded by each, every, many a, the verb usually takes singular form.eg: Every boy and every girl in this room is entitled to a copy. Many a man and woman in this community finds himself or herself in need. 2 Coordination with “or” / “either… or”, “nor” / “neither… nor”, “not only ... but also” Here the problem of concord is generally dealt with according to the principle of proximity. But in informal style, items coordinated by “neither… nor”, “not only ... but also” can sometimes be regarded as plural. eg: My sisters or my brother is likely to be at home. Either my father or my brothers are coming. Neither the players nor the coach was / were overconfident. Not only the switches but also the old wiring has / have been changed. 3 Subject + as much as; Subject + as well as The form of the following verb is determined by the subject. These subordinate constructions are more than, rather than, no less than; theses prepositional phrases are in addition to, with, along with, together with, except.eg: his brother rather tha