主詞動詞一致：藏在眼前的英文文法規則

"The list of reasons are long" 聽起來幾乎對，因為 reasons 就坐在動詞旁邊，看起來很有說服力。但主詞不是 reasons。主詞是 list。所以句子應該是："The list of reasons is long."

主詞動詞一致的規則是：動詞必須和真正的主詞一致，而不是和最近的名詞、最大聲的名詞，或那個晚到還開始揮手的名詞一致。

Quick Answer

單數主詞接單數動詞：

• The dog runs.
• She likes coffee.
• The plan is ready.

複數主詞接複數動詞：

• The dogs run.
• They like coffee.
• The plans are ready.

在現在簡單式中，第三人稱單數主詞通常讓動詞加 -s 或 -es：he works、she watches、it matters。動詞 be 有特殊形式：am、is、are、was、were。

困難的不是基本規則。真正困難的是當其他字站在主詞和動詞中間時，找出真正的主詞。

The Pattern

先找主詞。再判斷它是單數還是複數。最後選擇相符的動詞。

• The box is on the table.
• The boxes are on the table.
• The box of markers is on the table.
• The boxes of markers are on the table.

片語 of markers 加入資訊，但不控制動詞。通常控制動詞的是 of 片語前面的主詞。

Ignore Interrupting Phrases

介系詞片語常常會分散視線：

• The price of the tickets is too high.
• The pages in the folder are missing.
• A group of students is waiting outside.
• Several groups of students are waiting outside.

問自己：這句真正是在說什麼？Price 很高。Pages 不見。A group 在等。Several groups 在等。

Watch Compound Subjects

兩個主詞用 and 連接時，通常接複數動詞：

• The laptop and the charger are on the desk.
• Reading and writing are useful skills.

但如果兩個名詞指的是一個組合概念，動詞可以是單數：

• Peanut butter and jelly is my favorite sandwich filling.
• Research and development is a major expense for the company.

意思會控制一致。

Or and Nor Follow the Nearest Subject

使用 or 和 nor 時，動詞常和較近的主詞一致：

• Neither the students nor the teacher is ready.
• Neither the teacher nor the students are ready.
• Either the files or the folder is missing.
• Either the folder or the files are missing.

這個模式有時聽起來彆扭，所以可以改寫："The teacher is not ready, and the students are not ready either."

Natural Examples

Everyday Sentences

• The keys are on the counter.
• My phone is in the car.
• The bag of clothes is by the door.
• The clothes in the bag are clean.

主詞小小一變，動詞也會改變。

Work and School

• The results are available online.
• The result of the survey is surprising.
• Each student receives a login code.
• Several students receive extra practice.

Each 和 every 通常讓主詞成為單數，即使意思感覺像很多人：

• Each applicant has two minutes.
• Every question matters.

There Is and There Are

以 there 開頭的句子，主詞在動詞後面：

• There is a problem.
• There are three problems.
• There was a note on the door.
• There were several notes on the door.

看動詞後面，才能找到主詞。

Collective Nouns

像 team、family、staff、committee 這類集合名詞可能比較棘手。在許多標準情境中，當群體作為一個單位行動時，會被視為單數：

• The team is ready.
• The committee has made a decision.

當焦點在個別成員時，有些英文用法會選擇複數一致。一般清楚寫作中，選一個模式並保持一致。

Numbers, Amounts, and Fractions

當數量描述一個整體時，可以當單數：

• Ten dollars is enough for lunch.
• Five minutes is all I need.
• Three kilometers is not far by bike.

數量看起來像複數，但句子把它當成一個金額、時間或距離單位。

分數和百分比要看後面的名詞：

• Half of the cake is gone.
• Half of the cookies are gone.
• Twenty percent of the budget is reserved.
• Twenty percent of the seats are reserved.

一致跟著被衡量的東西走。

Common Traps

Trap 1: The Nearest Noun Trap

"The box of cookies are empty" 很容易讓人想這樣寫，因為 cookies 是複數。但主詞是 box。說："The box of cookies is empty."

Trap 2: Each and Every

"Every student and teacher are invited" 聽起來可能可以，因為群體很大。但在標準文法中，every 讓主詞成為單數："Every student and teacher is invited."

Trap 3: Indefinite Pronouns

許多不定代名詞是單數：

• Everyone is here.
• Someone has the answer.
• Nobody knows the code.
• Each is responsible for one part.

有些是複數：

• Both are correct.
• Few understand the rule.
• Many have tried.

有些取決於後面的名詞：

• Some of the cake is gone.
• Some of the cookies are gone.

Trap 4: Titles and Names

標題可能看起來像複數，但當單數使用：

• "Great Expectations" is a novel.
• The United States is often treated as singular in modern usage.
• Statistics is difficult for some students when it names a subject.

問問看這個片語是不是一個標題、一個國家，或一個學科。

Trap 5: Long Subjects

長主詞會讓動詞感覺離很遠：

• The new system for tracking applications across multiple departments is ready.

主詞是 system，所以動詞是 is。

Trap 6: The Number vs. A Number

The number of 是單數，因為它指向一個總數：

• The number of visitors has increased.

A number of 是複數，因為它表示 several：

• A number of visitors have asked the same question.

這兩個片語看起來幾乎一樣，但冠詞改變了文法工作。

A Fast Editing Routine

編輯時，不要只從左到右讀句子。先圈出動詞，再問：「誰或什麼在做這個動詞？」往回找，直到找到真正的主詞。如果介系詞片語讓你分心，先暫時把它劃掉。

• The folder of receipts from three trips is missing.

動詞是 is。什麼不見了？The folder。of receipts 和 from three trips 加入細節，但不控制動詞。

這個流程一開始會慢，但它會訓練你的眼睛不要相信最近的名詞。這就是整場戰鬥。

Wrong / Better / Why

Mini Practice

選擇正確動詞。

1. The stack of papers _____ on my chair. (is / are)
2. The papers in the stack _____ old. (is / are)
3. Each participant _____ a badge. (receive / receives)
4. There _____ two messages waiting. (is / are)
5. Neither the manager nor the employees _____ available. (is / are)
6. The schedule and the map _____ in the folder. (is / are)
7. Everyone _____ the same instructions. (has / have)
8. Some of the water _____ gone. (is / are)
9. Some of the cups _____ missing. (is / are)
10. The results of the test _____ surprising. (was / were)

Answer Key

1. is - Stack 是單數。
2. are - Papers 是複數。
3. receives - Each 是單數。
4. are - Messages 是複數。
5. are - Employees 是較近的主詞。
6. are - 兩個項目用 and 連接。
7. has - Everyone 是單數。
8. is - Water 是不可數。
9. are - Cups 是複數。
10. were - Results 是複數。

Tiny Summary

選動詞前，先找真正的主詞。

忽略主詞和動詞之間的片語。

Each、every、everyone 和 someone 通常是單數。

遇到 there is/are，往動詞後面找主詞。

主詞看得見時，一致很簡單。挑戰是不要被分心。