定语从句的谓语动词是用单数还是用复数,可从下面四个方面来判断:
1.定语从句有自己的主语(即引导词不充当定语从句的主语),其谓语的单复数与主语的单复数保持一致。例如:
You must do everything that I do.你必须做我做的一切。(do与其主语I保持一致)
You must do everything that he does.你必须做他做的一切。(does与其主语he保持一致)
2.如果定语从句的主语是定语从句的引导词,其谓语动词的单复数与前面的先行词保持一致。例如:
Do you know the girl who speaks English?你认识讲英语的那位姑娘吗?(引导词who作定语从句的主语,指代单数先行词comrade,故谓语动词用speaks)
Do you know the girls who speak English?你认识讲英语的那些姑娘吗?(引导词who作定语从句的主语,指代复数先行词comrades,故谓语动词用speak)
3.定语从句修饰前面的整个句子(其主语通常是引导词which),谓语动词一般用单数,不用复数。例如:
They are hollow,which makes them very light.它们是空的,这使得它们很轻。
They have invited me to visit their country,which makes me thank them.他们邀请我访问他们的国家,这使我很感谢他们。
4.由“one of+复数名词+定语从句”构成的结构,有两种情况:
(1)如果one前面无任何限定词,这个结构中的“复数名词”是先行词,定语从句的谓语动词用复数。例如:
She is one of the girls who know English.她是其中一个懂英语的女孩。
He is one of the students who have read the book.他是看过这本书的学生中的一位。
(2)如果one的前面有the,the first, the only,the last,the right等限定词修饰, one是先行词,定语从句的谓语动词用单数(即与one保持一致)。例如:
She is the only one of the girls who knows English.她是那些女孩中唯一一位懂英语的。
He's the first one of the students who has read the book.他是那些学生中第一个看过这本书的。