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，它就具有了形式上的多種變化；時態、語態及主謂數的統一等等。有關謂語動詞的命題焦點主要集中在（1）區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）被動語態的正確詞形、（4）謂語動詞的正確時態、（5）謂語動詞與主語數的一致。
謂語動詞常考題型及解題要點
1.區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 改為謂語動詞單數第三人稱形式drops.
2. 不規則動詞變化形式
解題要點 不規則動詞很多，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
解題要點 動詞的被動語態是常見的題型。它通常需要根據句意來判斷。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] 根據句意，此句應用被動語態，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. 根據特定的時間狀語使用正確的動詞時態
解題要點 一般過去時和完成式是常考的兩個有關動詞時態的命題。請特別注意相關的時間狀語。如阿拉伯數字表示的年代，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應前后統一
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）前后兩個句子的時態一般要求一致。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，即became
6. 謂語動詞應與主語的單復數保持一致
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常會出現錯誤的形式，
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] 單數主語sonata form要求用單數第三人稱謂語動詞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形式，應改為is referred。這類題型是有關主謂數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恰恰與主語的數相反，極易誤導謂語動詞的數的形式。
(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謂語動詞。