主詞與動詞一致

基本原則：找出核心名詞

動詞依主詞的核心名詞（head noun）變化，而不是依最靠近的名詞。忽略中間插入的部分：介系詞片語（of, in, for, with...）、關係子句、分詞片語、逗號之間的插入語。

• as well as, along with, together with, in addition to, accompanied by 這類片語不會讓主詞變成複數：動詞依前面的名詞變化。
• 相反地，以 and（或 both ... and）連接的兩個主詞 → 複數。
• 不定代名詞 everyone, everybody, someone, anything, nothing, no one, each → 單數。

解 Part 5 主詞動詞一致題的三個步驟

主詞動詞一致的題目通常給出同一個動詞的四種形式，例如 require / requires / requiring / to require。依照下列三個步驟，幾秒內就能刪去錯誤選項。

• 步驟 1：句子已經有主要動詞了嗎？如果還沒有，空格就必須是有時態變化的動詞（requires, required, will require），刪去 V-ing 和 to V。如果已經有了，空格通常是修飾用的 V-ing、V3 或 to V。
• 步驟 2：找出主詞的核心名詞。劃掉介系詞片語、關係子句和逗號之間的插入成分，再判斷是單數還是複數。
• 步驟 3：檢查時態以及主動／被動。選出在單複數、時間點，以及空格後有無受詞各方面都吻合的選項。

Each、every、either、neither、both

數量：a number of、the number of、百分比、金額

• A number of + 複數名詞（= 許多）→ 複數動詞：A number of clients have complained.
• The number of + 複數名詞（= 數目）→ 單數動詞：The number of clients has doubled.
• Most / All / Some / Half / the majority / percent / a lot of + of + N：動詞依 of 之後的名詞變化：Thirty percent of the budget is ... / Thirty percent of the employees are ...
• 金額、時間、距離視為一個整體 → 單數：Five thousand dollars is a reasonable price. / Two weeks is enough time.

不可數名詞、集合名詞、以 V-ing/to V/子句作主詞

• 不可數名詞 → 單數：information, equipment, furniture, luggage, baggage, advice, research, feedback, merchandise, machinery, news（The news is good）。
• 集合名詞（team, staff, committee, board, management, company, government）：美式英語與多益試題在指整個團體時通常視為單數；英式英語在想到個別成員時可用複數。Staff 也常搭配複數動詞（staff members are）。
• Police, people, personnel（人員，集合義）通常搭配複數動詞；the police are。
• 主詞是 V-ing、to V 或名詞子句 → 單數：Meeting deadlines is essential. / What we need is more time.
• 字尾為 -s 但為單數的名詞：news, economics, statistics（學科）, the United States，以及 Johnson Associates 這類公司名稱。

永遠是複數的名詞與單複數同形的名詞

商務文件中常見的一些名詞永遠帶有 -s，並搭配複數動詞，即使中文意思聽起來像單數。相反地，也有些名詞單數和複數寫法相同，必須依前面的限定詞判斷。

• headquarters 指某個具體的總部時通常搭配單數動詞：Our headquarters is located in Busan；用複數也可以接受。
• 在現代商務文件中，data 通常搭配單數動詞（The data shows ...），而 these data are 在學術文體中仍然正確。
• premises（營業場所、場地）永遠是複數：on the premises、The premises are monitored 24 hours a day.

There is / there are 與關係子句

• 在 there + be 之後，動詞依後面的名詞變化：There is a problem / There are several problems。遇到列舉時，通常依第一個名詞：There is a desk and two chairs.
• 在關係子句中，動詞依被代替的名詞（先行詞）變化。
• one of the + 複數名詞 + who/that + 複數動詞；但 the only one of the + 複數名詞 + who + 單數動詞。

主詞在動詞之後：倒裝句與疑問句

當動詞放在主詞前面時，很容易依前面最近的名詞來變化動詞。請先找出動詞後面真正的主詞，再決定動詞形式。

• 句首的分詞片語：Included in the price are breakfast and parking. / Attached is a copy of the agreement. / Enclosed are two tickets.
• 句首表示地點的介系詞片語：Among the speakers is a former minister. / Next to the lobby are two meeting rooms.
• Here is / Here are 依後面的名詞變化：Here are the documents you requested.
• 疑問句：助動詞依它後面的主詞變化：Has each of the participants received a badge? / Do the new guidelines apply to contractors?

常見錯誤

練習題（附解答）

1. 1.The list of approved vendors ------- updated every six months.

   1. (A) is
   2. (B) are
   3. (C) were
   4. (D) have been
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   答案: (A) is

   真正的主詞是 The list（單數），of approved vendors 只是修飾語 → is。are/were/have been 是依 vendors 而設的陷阱。

2. 2.Mr. Ito, along with his two colleagues, ------- attending the trade fair in Frankfurt.

   1. (A) are
   2. (B) is
   3. (C) were
   4. (D) have been
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   答案: (B) is

   along with 的片語不改變主詞；主詞是 Mr. Ito（單數）→ is。are/were/have been 是複數形式。

3. 3.Each of the applicants ------- a short interview with the hiring manager.

   1. (A) have
   2. (B) are having
   3. (C) were
   4. (D) has
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   答案: (D) has

   Each of + 複數名詞 仍搭配單數動詞 → has。have、are having 是複數形式；were 在單複數和語意上都不對。

4. 4.Neither the manager nor the assistants ------- aware of the schedule change.

   1. (A) was
   2. (B) were
   3. (C) is
   4. (D) has been
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   答案: (B) were

   neither ... nor 的動詞依最靠近的主詞 the assistants（複數）決定 → were。其餘選項都是單數形式。

5. 5.The number of online orders ------- doubled since last year.

   1. (A) has
   2. (B) have
   3. (C) are
   4. (D) having
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   答案: (A) has

   The number of + 複數名詞 → 單數動詞 has（since → 現在完成式）。have 是依 orders 而設的陷阱，are doubled 語意不對。

6. 6.A number of employees ------- requested flexible working hours.

   1. (A) has
   2. (B) is
   3. (C) was
   4. (D) have
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   答案: (D) have

   A number of + 複數名詞（= 許多）→ 複數動詞 have。has/is/was 是單數形式。

7. 7.Thirty dollars ------- the standard fee for late registration.

   1. (A) are
   2. (B) were
   3. (C) is
   4. (D) have been
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   答案: (C) is

   金額（Thirty dollars）視為單一數額 → 單數動詞 is。其他選項都是複數形式。

8. 8.The information in these brochures ------- out of date.

   1. (A) are
   2. (B) were
   3. (C) is
   4. (D) have been
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   答案: (C) is

   information 是不可數名詞 → 單數動詞 is。in these brochures 只是修飾語；各個複數選項都是陷阱。

9. 9.There ------- several reasons why the project was delayed.

   1. (A) are
   2. (B) is
   3. (C) was
   4. (D) has been
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   答案: (A) are

   There + be 的動詞依後面的名詞 several reasons（複數）決定 → are。is/was/has been 是單數形式。

10. 10.The consultant who interviewed our regional managers ------- a detailed report for the board every quarter.

    1. (A) prepare
    2. (B) preparing
    3. (C) prepares
    4. (D) have prepared
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    答案: (C) prepares

    去掉關係子句 who interviewed our regional managers，主詞是 The consultant（單數）→ prepares。prepare、have prepared 是複數形式；preparing 不能當主要動詞。

常見問題