单复数一致:通常来讲,大家第一时间会想到的就是主谓一致,也就是主语和谓语在单复数上保持一致;但在GMAT中,我们不仅仅需要考虑主语和谓语的单复数一致,还需要考虑句子中涉及的其他成分的单复数一致,比如代词指代的时候,也要注意单复数一致等;
1)主语和谓语单复数一致:
a)最常见的主语为单数名词,或不可数名词,谓语为单数;
b)如果不可数名词后"+s"做主语,应被视为复数名词,所以谓语需要用复数;比如,numbers,waters等
例句1:The market for so-called functional beverages,drinks that promise health benefits beyond their inherent nutritional value,nearly doubled over the course of four years,in rising from$2.68 billion in 1997 to be$4.7 billion in 2000.
在这个句子中,drinks作为饮品理解的话,为一个不可数名词,但是后面+s后,要看作可数名词复数,因此其后that从句的谓语动词用了promise(原型,表示主语为复数);
c)集合名词作主语,需要判断想要强调的意思(表示整体,还是表示集合里的具体人或事物),决定谓语的单复数;(比如,class,staff,army)
例句:Using study groups managed by the principal popular organizations and political parties,the Swedish public was informed by the government about energy and nuclear power.
在这个句子中,主语the Swedish public(中的public为一个集合名词---公众)想要表达公众这个整体,因此谓语动词用单数was informed.. 加拿大GMAT
d)学科名词作主语,通常谓语为单数,但是当statistics和economics分别表示统计数据和经济政策时,
需要用复数;
e)专有名词(通常句子中出现一串首字母大写的单词)作主语,谓语动词通常用单数;
例句:Thomas Mann's novel Doctor Faustus offers an examination not only of how difficult it is to reconcile reason,will,and passion together in any art form,but also a skillfully navigated exploration of the major concerns of modernism.
在这个句子中,主语Thomas Mann's novel Doctor Faustus的核心词是是一本书的名字,我们可以看到很多大写字母,所以谓语为单数offers;
f)A of B..结构作主语时,通常情况下都是有A决定谓语的单复数(除了part of…,most of….,some of….,the rest of….等,由of后面的名词决定谓语的单复数外)
例句:As with ants,the elaborate social structure of termites includes a few individuals reproducing and the rest serve the colony by tending juveniles,gathering food,building the nest,or battling intruders.
在这个句子中,主语为the elaborate social structure of termites为一个a of b结构的名词短语,根据规则,谓语需要有of前面的名词保持一致,因此includes用了单数形式;(当然,这个题干的句子存在其他的错误,所以这个句子本身是错误的,但是主语和谓语单复数一致上是正确的)
加拿大商科研究生GMAT SC单复数一致问题
例句:Five hundred million different species of living creatures have appeared on Earth,nearly 99 percent of them vanishing.
D.Of five hundred million different species of living creatures that have appeared on Earth,nearly 99 percent of them have vanished.
在这个题目的D选项中,主语nearly 99 percent of them也可以看作为一个a of b的结构,但是注意,这里谓语动词的单复数需要和of后面的名词保持一致,这里them指代了five hundred million different species of living creatures,其中核心词为species(注意,这个单词单复数同体,也就是单数和复数都是这个单词),前面有five hundred million修饰,所以这里species为复数,因此后面的谓语动词需要用复数have vanished. GMAT备考
g)不定式短语,ving分词短语,从句作主语,谓语通常都用单数;
例句:According to some critics,watching television not only undermines one's ability to think critically but also impairs one's overall ability to perceive.
在这个句子中,主语watching television为一个ving分词短语,因此谓语需要用单数undermines和impairs
例句:To estimate the expansion rate of the universe is a notoriously difficult problem because there is a lack of a single yardstick that all distances can be measured by.
在这个句子中,主语是一个不定式短语To estimate the expansion rate of the universe,因此位于用单数is是合理的;(这个句子本身存在其他错误)