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一分钟学写作|《The Elements of Style》惯用法的基本规则(9)


《The Elements of Style》

惯用法的基本规则(9)

规则九

主语的单复数决定谓语动词的单复数

介于主语和谓语动词之间的词不影响谓语动词的数。例如:

The bittersweet flavor of youth一its trials,its joys,its adventures,its challenges——are not soon forgotten.

The bittersweet flavor of youth ——its trials,its joys,its adventures,its challenges-is not soon forgotten.

(青春的又苦又乐的

滋味——考验、欢乐、奇遇、挑战一是不会很快就被遗忘的。)

一个常见的错误是:关系代词作主语并由它引导的定语从句接在“one of(……之一)”或类似的词组之后,从句中的谓语动词用了单数。

One of the ablest

men who has attacked this problem.

One of the ablest men who have attacked this problerm

解决这个难题的

人之一

One of those people

who is never ready on

time

One of those people who are never ready on time

那些从来不按时

作好准备的人之一