英語動詞分謂語動詞（含系動詞）和非謂語動詞（分詞、不定式及動名詞）兩類。動詞既以謂語的功能出現(xiàn)，它就具有了形式上的多種變化；時態(tài)、語態(tài)及主謂數(shù)的統(tǒng)一等等。有關謂語動詞的命題焦點主要集中在（1）區(qū)分謂語動詞非謂語動詞（詳見本書要點之1）、（2）謂語動詞的正確詞形，（3）被動語態(tài)的正確詞形、（4）謂語動詞的正確時態(tài)、（5）謂語動詞與主語數(shù)的一致。
謂語動詞�？碱}型及解題要點
1.區(qū)分謂語動詞及非謂語動詞形式
[例1] The“ ashcan” school in American art being a rebellion against traditional subjects and favored the painting of back-street scenes.
[答案] 分詞being改為謂語動詞的一般過去時was。
[例2] Stalagmites are produced when water to drop directly to the floor of a cave.
[答案] 不定詞to drop 改為謂語動詞單數(shù)第三人稱形式drops.
2. 不規(guī)則動詞變化形式
解題要點 不規(guī)則動詞很多，但TOEEL試題涉及到的卻是極小量的一些，下面是較常見的一些不規(guī)則變化的動詞：
begin - began - begun break - broke - broken
bind - broke - broken blow - bound - bound
build- blew - blown build - built - built
choose - chose - chosen deal - dealt - dealt
find - found - found grow - grew- grown
hold- hold - held know - knew- known
leave - left - left sell - sold - sold
stand - stood - stood steal - struck - stole
win - won - won white- wrote written
例題分析
(1) Soil science begun with the formulation of the theory of humus in 1809. (89.10)
[答案] 過去分詞begun改過一般過去時形式began。
(2) The tradition of an all-male Supreme Court was broke in the 1980*s when Sandra Day O*Connor was appointed to the Supreme Court.
[答案] break 的過去分詞是broken。
(3) A citadel, a fortress designed for the defense of a city, usually standed on top of a hill.
[答案] standed是錯誤形式，應改為stood。
3. 謂語動詞的被動語態(tài)
解題要點 動詞的被動語態(tài)是常見的題型。它通常需要根據(jù)句意來判斷。介詞by是一個明顯的提示。
例題分析
(1) People have always fascinated by the parrot*s colovfal feathers and its ability to mimic human speck
[答案] 關鍵詞by表示動詞應用被動形式，即always been fascinated。
(2) Porgy and Bess by George Gershwin has called the first truly successful North American opera.(93.10)
[答案] 根據(jù)句意，此句應用被動語態(tài)，即has been called.
(3) Tariffs are the taxes or customs duties levied against goods that are import from another country (93.10)
[答案] 正確的被動語態(tài)應用過去分詞，即imported。
(4) Almost destroy by fire in 1814. The White House was rebuilt and enlarged over the next three years.
[答案] 關鍵詞by表明前面的動詞應用被動的形式，即Almost destroyed。
(5) The unit of measurement known as a *foot* has originally based on the average size of the human foot
[答案] 根據(jù)句意，謂語動詞應用被動的形式，因而has 應改為was，而且“be based on’是固定的動詞短語。
4. 根據(jù)特定的時間狀語使用正確的動詞時態(tài)
解題要點 一般過去時和完成式是�？嫉膬蓚�有關動詞時態(tài)的命題。請?zhí)貏e注意相關的時間狀語。如阿拉伯數(shù)字表示的年代，介詞since和for＋一段時間等等。
例題分析
(1) Considered one of America*s greatest playwrights, Eugene O*Neill win the Nobel Prize of literature in 1936.
[答案] 時間狀語in 1936表明謂語動詞應用一般過去時won。
(2) Since the turn of the century,the number of Native Americans living in Canada is increased.
[答案] 句首介詞sina 要求用完成式，故is increased 改為has increased。
(3) The metal aluminum has been first isolated early in the nineteenth century.
[答案] 時間狀語in the nineteenth century要求謂語動詞用一般過去時was。
(4) For centuries large communities of people have living on houseboats in parts of the world where the climate is warm and the waters are calm.
[答案] 句首介詞短詞For centuries 表明此句應用完成式，而have living是錯誤的形式，應改為have been living。
5. 復合句或并列句中的謂語動詞時態(tài)應前后統(tǒng)一
例題分析
(1) Before the plains were settled prairie dog towns in many places stretch as far as the eye could see. (93.5)
[答案] 這是個含有時間狀語從句的復合句。從句是一般過去時(were settled)主句亦應用一般過去時。故stretch應改為stretched。
(2) The poet Marianne was initially associated with the imagist movement. But later develops her own rhyme patterns and verse forms.
[答案] 并列句（由but相聯(lián)）前后兩個句子的時態(tài)一般要求一致。Develops 應改為一般過去時developed。
(3) Coal and petroleum resulted when plants become buried in swamps and decayed.
[答案] 主句是一般過去時(resulted)，時間狀語從句亦應用相同的時態(tài)，即became
6. 謂語動詞應與主語的單復數(shù)保持一致
解題要點這類試題的難點是當主語謂語相隔遙遠時，如主語帶一冗長的定語后置謂語動詞的數(shù)常會出現(xiàn)錯誤的形式，
例題分析
(1) Contemporary management practice have been influenced by investigations in the behavioral sciences. (93.10)
[答案] 主語是單數(shù)的practice，謂語動詞應改為has been。
(2) Even in an age of experimentation and departures from convention, the sonata form remain among the most vital means of musical expression.
[答案] 單數(shù)主語sonata form要求用單數(shù)第三人稱謂語動詞remains。
(3) The ability to retain a mental record of earlier experiences are referred to as “memory”.
[答案] 由于主語The ability 后面帶有一冗長的定語，謂語錯誤地使用了復數(shù)形式，應改為is referred。這類題型是有關主謂數(shù)的命題中最難的形式，當主語后面接有一個很長的定語而使主謂分隔開來時，應特別留意謂語動詞的數(shù)是否與主語一致。這類題的陷井是定語部分靠近謂語的那個名詞的數(shù)恰恰與主語的數(shù)相反，極易誤導謂語動詞的數(shù)的形式。
(4) Its tremendous output of dairy products have earned the state of Wisconsin the title of America*s Dairyland.
[答案] 主語是單數(shù)形式的output，故謂語動詞應改為has。介詞短語of dairy products 作主語的定語。
(5) Ensuring an adequate water supply have been a concern ever since people began to live in towns and cities .
[答案] 主語是動名詞短語Ensuring an adequate water supply動名詞作主語要求單數(shù)謂語動詞。