非謂語動詞作主語時的主謂一致

非謂語動詞(主要指不定式或動名詞)作主語時，謂語動詞通常用單數。如：

1. 動名詞作主語

Having to change trains is a small inconvenience. 換乘火車多少有些不便。

Being deaf and dumb makes communication very difficult. 又聾又啞很難與人交往。

Watching the event on television was a poor substitute for actually being there. 從電視上觀看那個比賽比現場觀看可差遠了。

Reading by artificial light is bad for the eyes. 閱讀時使用人工照明會損害眼睛。

Writing a dictionary is a long and difficult business but we’re getting there. 編寫詞典是費時費事的工作, 但我們一定能成功。

Writing a book was a more difficult job than he’d thought. 寫書這工作可比他原來想像的難得多。

2. 不定式作主語

To say you were ignorant of the rules is no excuse. 說自己不知道規則是不能成為藉口的。

How to earn daily bread by my pen was then the problem. 如何靠我的筆維持生計在當時是一難題。

To have such an easy examination paper was a gift from the gods. 碰到這樣容易的考卷, 那是老天爺的恩賜。

To say you were ignorant of the rules is no excuse. 說自己不知道規則是不能成為藉口的。

To say that he was displeased is an understatement. 說他不高興是重事輕說。

To move house requires forward planning. 要搬家得先做好計劃。

To have told my secret would have given me away. 要是講出了我的秘密就是把我自己出賣了。