英語では主語によって述語動詞が変わることがあります。また複合主語が用いられている場合の述語動詞に迷うこともありますよね。今回は主述の一致(主語と述語動詞の一致) についてお伝えします。
英語では、主語の人称や、その名詞が単数か複数かなどによって述語動詞が変わります。
また、複合主語(接続詞で結ばれていたり、前置詞などを含む主語) の場合は、どの単語に合わせて述語動詞を選ぶのかも大切です。
問題
正しい方を選びましょう。
1. A number of students (want wants) to study abroad.
2. The number of children in that area (have has ) greatly increased.
3. Speaking more than two languages ( are is ) required to work here.
4. Ten years ( are is ) a long time.
5. Ten years ( have has ) passed since I moved here.
6. His family (are is ) going to move to New York.
7. One fifth of the students ( have has ) to take the test again.
8. Look at the boys who ( are is ) playing baseball over there.
9. Each boy and girl in my class ( are is ) very cheerful.
10. Both Tom and I ( are is am ) going to eat out.
11. Either Tom or I ( is am ) supposed to go.
12. Neither you nor Tom (were was ) there.
13. Not only you but also I ( were was ) was busy.
14. Not you but your father ( are is ) respected.
15. Your father as well as you ( was were ) excited about the result.
16. The police ( are is ) investigating the issue.
解答と解説
1. A number of students ( want ) to study abroad.
a number of ～は「たくさんの」という意味で複数扱いです。
2. The number of children in that area ( has ) greatly increased.
the number of ～は「～の数」という意味で単数扱いです。
3. Speaking more than two languages ( is ) required to work here.
主部は speaking ～ languages 。動名詞は単数扱いです。
4. Ten years ( is ) a long time.
ten years をひとまとまりとして考えるため、単数扱いです。
5. Ten years ( have ) passed since I moved here.
通常〇年はひとかたまりとして考えるけれど、「～年経った」という場合は、1年ずつ数える気持ちが入るため複数扱いです。
6. His family ( is ) going to move to New York.
家族をひとまとまりと考えるため単数扱いです。
7. One fifth of the students ( have ) to take the test again.
分数を表す語句の of の後ろに合わせます。
注）分数は分子を整数(ここでは one) 、分母を序数(ここでは fifth)で表します。なお、分子が複数なら分母も複数にします(例 fifths)。
8. Look at the boys who ( are ) playing baseball over there.
関係代名詞節の動詞は先行詞に合わせます。
9. Each boy and girl in my class ( is ) very cheerful.
「each＋単数名詞」は当然単数扱いですが、「each ＋ A ＋ B」も原則的に単数扱いです。
10. Both Tom and I ( are ) going to eat out.
both A and B は複数扱いです。
11. Either Tom or I ( am ) supposed to go.
either A or B (A か B のどちらか) は、B に合わせます。
A or B の場合も同様に B に合わせます。
12. Neither you nor Tom ( was ) there.
neither A nor B (A も B も～ない) は、B に合わせます。
13. Not only you but also I ( was ) was busy.
not only A but also B (A だけでなくB も) は B に合わせます。
14. Not you but your father ( is ) respected.
not A but B (B ではなく A ) は、B に合わせます。
15. Your father as well as you ( was ) excited about the result.
A as well as B (Bだけでなく A も) は、A に合わせます。
16. The police ( are ) investigating the issue.
the police は集合名詞で、多くの警察官を想定しているため複数扱いです。
補足
3人の警察官は three police
1人は a police officer (policeは複数なので a police は不可）
主述の一致のルールを理解し、正しく使いこなしましょう。
お読みいただき、ありがとうございます。
