6. Always Check for Subject and Verb Agreement

　　时常检查主谓是否一致

　　One of the most basic grammar rules in English states that the subject of the sentence has to agree with its verb. To approach fluency in English, it’s crucial to understand subject-verb agreement. The subject of a sentence can be either singular or plural, which will determine what form the verb takes.

　　英语中最基本的语法规则就是句子的主语必须要和谓语一致。为了流利地使用英语，了解主谓一致是至关重要的。句子的主语可以是单数也可以是复数，主语的单复数形式决定了它的谓语要采取何种形式。

　　For example:

　　例如：

　　She likes pizza.

　　她喜欢披萨。

　　They like burgers.

　　他们喜欢披萨。

　　But what happens when a sentence gets more complicated?

　　但是如果一个句子更加复杂该怎么办呢

　　When there’s more than one subject connected by and, it’s a compound subject that requires a plural.

　　当句子中存在由and连接的并列主语时，那么这就是一个复合主语，谓语动词需要用复数。

　　Lily and Tom want to order pizza. (They want to order pizza.)

　　莉莉和汤姆想要点披萨。(他们想要点披萨。)

　　But here’s where things get really complicated. Sometimes the subject is accompanied by an additional piece of information that follows along with, together with, as well as, such as and more. These don’t change the subject into a compound subject and don’t require a plural verb.

　　但是这里我们要说明的才是真正复杂的。有时，主语后会伴随额外的信息，由along with, together with, as well as, such as 或者其他的词连接。这种情况下不需要把主语看成是复合主语，谓语动词也不需要是用复数形式。

　　Lily, just like Tom, wants to order pizza. (She wants to order pizza. So does Tom.)

　　莉莉想要点一份披萨，汤姆也是。

　　I, together with Matthew, am going for a walk. (I am going for a walk. Matthew is going with me.)

　　我要去散步，马修和我一起。

　　Note that this a slightly awkward sentence, and using a compound subject like Matthew and I would be preferable here.

　　注意这个句子有一点歧义，使用复合宾语Matthew and I 会好一些。

　　A book, along with a few cards and pencils, was on the table. (A book was on the table. There were also a few cards and pencils.)

　　书在桌子上，桌子上还有一些卡片和铅笔。

　　Notice how these sentence elements provide additional information that can be safely removed. The sentence would be less informative, but still grammatically correct.

　　注意句子中提到的一些附加信息可以被移除。虽然这样句子可能不那么富有信息性，但是语法是却是正确的。

　　A simple way to check for subject and verb agreement is to replace the subject with an appropriate pronoun, like we did in the first sentence above.

　　这里有一个验证主谓是否一致的简单方法，可以用一个合适的代词来替换主语，就像我们在第一个句子里做的一样。

　　Lily, just like Tom, wants to order pizza. (She wants to order pizza.)

　　莉莉想要点一份披萨，汤姆也是。(她想要一份披萨。)

　　Lily and Tom want to order pizza. (They want to order pizza.)

　　莉莉和汤姆想要点一份披萨。(他们想要点一份披萨。)

　　If the sentence still makes sense, your subject and your verb are in agreement!

　　这样做，如果句子仍旧有意义，那么你所使用的主语和谓语就是一致的。

　　7. Mix It Up with Active and Passive Voice

　　主动语态和被动语态混合在一起

　　In many English sentences, the subject is the one performing the action described by the verb of the sentence. This is called “active voice.”

　　在许多英文的句子里，句子的主语是动作的执行者。这就是主动语态

　　While the children played a game in the backyard, their dad prepared dinner.

　　孩子们在后院玩游戏的时候，他们的爸爸在准备晚饭。

　　In other instances, the subject is being acted upon. Someone else is performing the action! This is “passive voice.”

　　在其他的情况下，主语是被执行者，其他人在完成这个动作。这就是被动语态。

　　While a game was played by the kids, dinner was prepared by their dad.

　　孩子们在后院玩游戏的时候，他们的爸爸在准备晚饭。

　　This sentence also has two clauses, and both of them are written in the passive voice: the game was played (by the kids) while dinner was prepared (by their dad).

　　句子由两部分组成，两部分都包含着被动语态：游戏由孩子们来玩，晚饭由爸爸来做。

　　While it’s recommended to use passive voice sparingly, you should know how to recognize and use both active and passive voices.

　　我们推荐偶尔使用被动语态，但是你应该明白如何让辨认并且使用主被动语态。

　　A good mix of active and passive verbs will make your English, especially written English, varied and colorful. Don’t be afraid of combinations!

　　同时使用主被动语态尤其是你的书面英语富有变化且多彩。要勇敢地把主被动语态结合在一起使用。

　　8. For Collective Nouns, Context Is Everything

　　对于集合名词，语境决定一切

　　Sometimes, a singular noun represents a group of people or a collection of things. Should it take a singular or a plural verb? Is family singular or plural? Is government plural or singular? How about crowd or flock? These types of nouns are known as collective nouns. You’ll treat them differently depending on context.

　　有时候，一个单数的名词代表着很多人或者很多事物。那么这种情况下，谓语动词应该采取单数还是复数呢?family是单数还是复数呢?government是单数还是复数呢?crowd和flock呢?这类名词被叫做集合名词。对待这类词应该视语境而定。

　　First, consider whether you’re operating in British English or American English. In American English, collective nouns typically take a singular verb. For example:

　　首先，要考虑你正在处理的是英式英语还是美式英语。在美式英语中，集合名词的谓语动词多用单数形式。例如：

　　My family loves me a lot.

　　我的家人很爱我。

　　The American government is voting on this issue today.

　　美国政府今天将就这个问题投票。

　　There are two important exceptions that you’re likely to encounter in casual conversation: police and people. Police and people always take a plural verb.

　　在日常的交流中，你还会遇到两个重要的特殊集合名词：police和people。police和people的谓语动词通常才用复数形式。

　　The Boston Police make reports on the matter.

　　波士顿警察正在就这个问题作报告。

　　People are starting to wonder what’s going on.

　　人们想知道发生了什么。

　　However, in British English, collective nouns may take a singular or a plural verb, depending on the rest of the sentence. If the collective noun represents a group acting as one unit, it takes a singular verb. If the collective noun stands for several individuals or things acting independently, it takes a plural verb. For example:

　　然而，在英式英语中，集合名词的谓语动词既可以采用复数形式，也可以采用单数形式，这要视句子中的其他成分而定。如果集合名词代表一群人但却以一个整体出现，那么谓语动词使用单数。如果集合名词代表几个个体或者一些事物以单独的形式出现，那么谓语动词采用复数形式。例如：

　　My family are all coming to the wedding. (“Family” stands for several different people who’ll arrive at the wedding, not necessarily together.)

　　我的家人都来参加婚礼了。(family代表不同的人，他们将来参加婚礼，但是不是必须同时到达。)

　　The staff disagree on the deadline for the project. (The staff are employees who have different opinions about the project deadline.)

　　员工们对于这个方案的最后期限意见不统一。(staff是不同的雇员，他们对于方案的最后期限有着不同的看法。)