核心问题
He was told nobody but his two brothers ____ still smoking.
A. was B. were
请问答案是A,还是B?
词典解答
按传统语法要求,在作主语的 nobody but 之后不管是接单数名词还是接复数名词,其谓语动词一律使用单数。因此,上题应选 A。
[附注]英语教师应注意,在当代英语里,nobody but + 复数名词作主语时,其谓语动词使用复数的情况也不少见,这是因为作者顾及到“概念一致原则”或者“邻近原则”的缘故。例如:
Nobody but two boys were in the room just now. 刚才只有两个男孩在屋里。