当what在从句中作主语时,我们需要根据what的含义来判断what从句内部的谓语动词该用单数还是复数,此时从句谓语动词的单复数不受主句部分的影响。当what在从句中相当于“that which …”或“the thing which …”时,what表达的是单数的含义,此时从句谓语动词就用单数。当what在从句中相当于“those which …”或“the things which …”时,what表达的是复数的含义,那么从句的谓语动词就用复数。下面请大家比较下面这组例句。
1. a. They have found what appearsto be a dinosaur egg fossil.
他们找到的东西看着像是一枚恐龙蛋化石。
b. They have found what appear to be human remains.
他们找到的东西看着像是人的遗骸。
解析:在a句中,从句中的表语a dinosaur egg fossil是一个单数名词短语,此时从句中的主语what表达的就是单数含义,相当于thething which,因而从句谓语动词使用了单数appears。而在b句中,表语human remains是一个复数名词短语,此时从句的主语what表达的就是复数含义,相当于the things which,因而what之后的谓语使用了复数形式appear。上面的a、b两个句子可以分别改写为“They have found the thing which appears to be a dinosaur egg fossil”和“They have found the things which appear to be human remains”。
但是,如果我们把句末的表语变成复数,比如增添一个名词短语a large navy,说成:“What truly commands respect ____(be) a resolute foreign policy and a large navy.”此时主句谓语该用单数还是复数呢?此时最好还是使用单数is,说成:“What truly commands respect isa resolute foreign policy and a large navy.”这样用的理由如下:从句中的谓语动词commands是单数,这就意味着what从句表达的是单数含义,因此主句的谓语动词最好用单数is,此时我们把主句的两个名词短语当成一个整体来看待。
当然,我们也可以把两个名词短语分开看待,那么此时主句的谓语动词就应使用复数,不过我们最好把从句的谓语动词写成复数形式command,也即改写成:“What truly command respect are a resolute foreign policy and a large navy.”由此可见,从句谓语动词、主句谓语动词以及主句表语在单复数一致性方面有内在的联系。
7. What he called games of "perfect information" refer to games likechess where the players can't hide anything or play tricks; they don’t win bychance, but by means of logic and skills.
解析:我们来分析what从句的结构:he是主语,called是谓语,what作called的宾语,名词短语games of "perfectinformation"充当宾语补足语。由于该名词短语的核心词games是复数,这就意味着被补充的宾语what表达的是复数含义,因此我们可以把what从句看成复数,此时主句谓语动词就使用了复数refer。