| 单词 | 明确指示 |
| 释义 | 〔what〕Whenwhat is the subject of a clause, it may be construed as singular or plural, depending on the sense.It is singular when taken as the equivalent ofthat which or the thing which, as inI see what seems to be a dead tree; and it is plural when it is taken as the equivalent ofthose which or the things which, as inHe sometimes makes what seem to be gestures of aloofness. ? When awhat clause is itself the subject of a sentence, it may be construed as singular or plural,but the conditions governing this choice are somewhat more complicated.In general, awhat clause will be taken as a plural when the clause contains an explicit indication of its own plurality. There are two principal cases.First, the clause is plural ifwhat is the subject of the clause and the verb of the clause is itself plural: What seem to be two dead trees are blocking the road. What most surprise me are the inflammatory remarks at the end of his article. If the verb in thewhat clause does not anticipate the plural sense of the predicate in this way, a singular verb is generally used in the main clause as well,though the plural is sometimes found:What truly commands respect is (sometimes are ) a large navy and a resolute foreign policy. Second, thewhat clause is treated as plural when its predicate contains a plural noun phrase that unambiguously establishes the plurality of the clause as a whole, as inWhat traditional grammarians called "predicates" are called "verb phrases" by modern linguists. What the Romans established as military outposts were later to become important trading centers. In the absence of explicit plural marking of either of these types in a subjectwhat clause, the clause is usually treated as singular for the purposes of agreement, regardless of the sense:What she held in her lap was four kittens. What the apparent diamonds turned out to be was paste. In some cases, however, a clause withwhat as the subject may be treated as singular or plural, depending on a subtle distinction of sense. InWhat excite him most are money and power, the implication is that money and power are distinct elements; inWhat excites him most is money and power, the implication is that money and power are taken as constituting a single entity.See Usage Note at which 当what 作为从句中的主语时， 它既可被当作单数也可以为复数，这取决于词义。当被看作是that which 或 the thing which 时它就是单数， 如在I see what seems to be a dead tree（我看到个象棵死树的物体）” 这句话中； 当它被用作those which 或 the things which 的对应词时它是复数， 如在He sometimes makes what seem to be gestures of aloofness（他有时做一些似乎很超然的手势） 中。 当what 从句本身是句子的主语时， 它可被当作单数或复数，但决定这种选择的条件略为复杂些。总体上说，what 从句的含有对其数性明确指示时，它就可以将当作复数。 这有两种最主要的情况：首先，如果what 是从句的主语而该从句的谓语动词本身是复数，从句就是复数： What seem to be two dead trees are blocking the road.（象两棵死树的物体挡着路）； What mostsurprise me are the inflammatory remarks at the end of his article.（最令我吃惊的是他文章结尾处的煽动性言词） 。 如果what 从句的谓语动词并不预示谓语是复数， 主句中通常也用单数动词，尽管有时也可以发现有复数：What truly commands respect is（有时 are ) a large navy and a resolute foreign policy（真正博得尊敬的是强大的海军和坚定的外交政策） ； 其次what 从句在其谓语含有复数名词短语，并且其明显可建立整个从句的复数性时是被当作复数的， 如在What traditional grammarians called "predicates" are called "verb phrases" by modern linguists.（那些传统语法家所称为“谓语”的则被现代语言学家称作“动词短语”） What the Romans established as military outpostswere later to become important trading centers.（那些罗马人设为军事前哨基地的地方后来成为了重要的贸易中心）。 当what 从句主语缺乏这两类明确表示复数性的标记时， 从句通常为了一致性而不顾及词义地被当作单数：What she held in her lap was four kittens.（她抱在膝盖上的是四只小猫）。 What the apparent diamonds turned out to bewas paste.（那些看上去象真的钻石结果却是人造宝石） 。 然而，在一些情况下，以what 作主语的从句可被当单数或复数，取决于语义上微妙的差异。 在What excite him most are money and power（最让他兴奋的是金钱和权力）， 这句话中暗含着金钱和权力是不同的成分； 在What excites him most is money and power（最让他兴奋的是金钱和权力）， 这句话中暗含着金钱和权力是作为构成一个单一整体的成分 参见 which |
| 随便看 |
英汉汉英双解词典收录301015条英汉双解翻译词条，可根据汉字查询相应的英文词汇，基本涵盖了全部常用汉字的英文读音、翻译及用法，是英语学习及翻译工作的有利工具。