英语中有很多的不定代词,有的指代的是复数,如 both,few 或 others 等,有的指代的是单数,如 something,either 或 another 等,其中 each 也是指代单数的,因此它及对应的短语作主语时,谓语动词用单数,然而在有些句子中,each 的存在可能会影响到主谓一致的判断。
Each 可以作限定词或代词,作限定词时,后面接单数名词;按照通用的语法规则,它及对应的短语作主语时,谓语动词用单数,例如:
Each employee has been awarded the prize for his or her performances.
每位员工都因其表现而获奖。
因为 each 指代的是单数名词,所以当它被其他代词“二次”指代时,也用单数代词,如上句的 his 或 her,然而用复数的 their 或 them 来指代 each 的情形也越来越多,目的可能是为了简化复杂的 his or her 或 him or her 之类的表达方式,如上句改为:
Each employee has been awarded the prize for their performances.
我们国际象棋俱乐部的每个成员都有自己的特殊爱好。
Each member of our chess club has his or her own special interests.
Each member of our chess club has their own special interests.
但是无论是用单数的还是复数的单词,each 及对应的短语作主语时,谓语动词公认用单数,至于用什么代词指代 each,要根据实际情况来,在保证语法准确的情况下可以优先使用单数代词,当然使用复数的代词也渐渐流行起来,这个就像用指代有生命的 whose,它现在也越来越多的被用来指代非生命的物体了,例如:
This is the city whose inhabitants were abducted by aliens.
这就是居民被外星人绑架的城市。
那么当 each 直接跟在复数名词之后作主语时,谓语动词是否还是单数呢?如果是对于指代复数的不定代词如 both 等而言,它置于复数名词后面作主语时,谓语动词还是用复数,这是毫无争议的,例如:
They both realize there is a promotion for both of them.
他们都意识到他们俩都有晋升机会。
首先需要肯定的是 each 要跟在复数名词后面,才会有主谓一致的问题,而 each 跟在单数名词后面作主语是错误的语法,如 I each,it each 等是错误的,因为 each 用于指两个或两个以上的人或事物中的每一个。
当 each 跟在复数名词后面作主语时,谓语动词还是用复数,而跟 each 没关系,这是主谓一致的一个常考点,例如:
We each try to persuade him to quit smoking.
我们每个人都试图说服他戒烟。
The coach and the quarterback each want to win the championship.
教练和四分卫都想赢得冠军。
这个就好比作连词的 as well as 和 in addition to 等对主谓一致的影响原理一样,在实际使用中 as well as 不影响主谓一致,实际谓语跟着主语变化而变化,例如:
杰克和他的朋友们被邀请参加聚会。
正确:Jack as well as his friends was invited to the party.
错误:Jack as well as his friends were invited to the party.
为了更好的区分 as well as 等附加的信息,我们可以在使用时用逗号隔开,这样就清晰明了了,例如:
Jack, as well as his friends, was invited to the party.
不定代词虽然“不定”,还是一些语法规则还是比较“固定”的;万变不离其宗,所有的不定代词考的不是指代的对象,就是主谓一致,因为可以分类归纳。
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