Q:「More than one」到底用單數還是複數?完整文法解析

A:

許多英文學習者常常會困惑:「在 More than one of my students are (or is) going to study abroad this semester. 這句裡,more than one 應該搭配單數還是複數動詞呢?」本文將從文法規則、例句和細節補充來完整解釋,幫助你徹底理解 more than one、not one、at least one、one of + 複數名詞 等句型的動詞選擇規則。

「More than one」的文法規則

根據 The New Fowler’s Modern English Usagemore than one 必定視為單數,因此必須搭配單數動詞和單數代名詞:

  • More than one of my students is going to study abroad this semester.
    (我的學生中有一人以上這學期將出國唸書)

然而,當 more than 後面直接接明確數字大於 1 時,就必須使用複數動詞:

  • More than two of my students are going to study abroad this semester.

「Not one」與「At least one」的單數性

Not oneat least one 也都是單數主詞,動詞必須用單數:

  • Not one of the houses was left standing after the 9-21 earthquake.
    (921 大地震後未倒塌的房子一幢也沒有)
  • I have three children and at least one of them is a boy.
    (我有三個小孩,其中至少有一位是男孩)

有人誤以為 Not one 的 Not 是否定單數,使主詞變成複數,其實不然。Not one 等於 Not a single one,意思是「一個也沒有」,所以動詞依舊是單數。

「One of + 複數名詞」的關係代名詞問題

one of + 複數名詞 句型中,如果後面接關係代名詞,先行詞其實是「複數名詞」,因此後面動詞要用複數:

  • David is one of the students who are absent.
    (大衛是缺席的學生之一)

但若 one 前面有 the only 修飾語,則先行詞改為 one 本身,因此動詞用單數:

  • David is the only one of the students that is absent.
    (大衛是唯一缺席的學生)

文法規則延伸整理表

句型主詞解讀動詞選擇例句
More than one + 名詞單數(one 為核心)單數動詞More than one student is late.
More than + 數字 (≥2)複數複數動詞More than two students are late.
Not one + 名詞單數(= not a single one)單數動詞Not one of the houses was left standing.
At least one + 名詞單數單數動詞At least one of them is a boy.
One of + 複數名詞 + 關係代名詞先行詞 = 複數名詞複數動詞He is one of the students who are absent.
The only one of + 複數名詞 + 關係代名詞先行詞 = one單數動詞He is the only one of the students that is absent.

補充說明:常見誤區與學習建議

這裡提供一些額外提醒:

  1. More than one 固定當單數,無論直覺覺得「多於一個」應該是複數。
  2. Not one 永遠是「一個也沒有」的意思,所以仍然是單數。
  3. One of + 複數名詞 搭配關代時要看修飾語,有 the only 時才會變成單數。
  4. 建議學習時多造句,並對照 is / are 的不同情境,以加深印象。

總結:掌握「one of」句型的動詞選擇

總結來說,More than one 單數還是複數 這個問題其實不難:
one of + 複數名詞 結構中,核心主詞是 one,因此通常用單數動詞;即使前面加上 more thannotat least 也不影響。只有當 one of + 複數名詞 後面接關係代名詞時,才依據先行詞的不同來決定動詞是複數(一般情況)或單數(搭配 the only)。上表整理的規則,可以讓你在判斷單數或複數時更快掌握。

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