謂語動詞和主語的一致

有些謂語動詞必須和主語在人稱和數(shù)上保持一致，特別是動詞為現(xiàn)在時態(tài)時。在一般現(xiàn)在時中，若主語為第三人稱單數(shù)，多數(shù)動詞都要加-s或-es，如：He comes.Mary cries。如果主語不是第三人稱單數(shù)，就不需加這樣的詞尾，如：I come.

They cry.而且，不管是作主要動詞還是助動詞，在第三人稱單數(shù)的主語后都得用is，has，does這種形式，否則用are，am，have或do。至于can，may，must這些助動詞，在各種人稱后形式不變：

He(or She，It，My friend)comes(or sees，goes).

He(or She，It，My friend)is waiting，has come，does go，(is，has，does作助動詞) is kind，has a funny face，doesnothing at all.(is，has，does作主要動詞)

I(or we，You，They，My friends)come(or see，go).

I am waiting，have come，do go.We(or You，They，Myfriends)are waiting，have come，do go.(am，are，have，do作助動詞)

I am sorry.They are kind，have funny faces，do nothingat all.(am，are，have，do作主要動詞)

任何主語+must(or can，may，ought to，need not，darenot)come(or see，go).

過去時可和住何主語一起用，只有was和were是例外。was和第一第三人稱單數(shù)主語一起用，其他主語都和were一起用，如：

He was ill.I was ill.They were ill.

在將來時中主要是用shall或will，不需加詞尾，如：

They(or John and Mary) will come，shall come.

He(or It) will come，shall come.

?判斷主語的人稱不難，但判斷它的數(shù)有時卻并不容易。至少有39種有關(guān)數(shù)上一致的問題，它們可以分為兩大類。

第一大類是哪個是主語的問題。在這類中，決定哪個詞或詞組是主語比決定某個主語是單數(shù)還是復(fù)數(shù)更困難。以下面句子為例：

The students，as well as the teacher，are(or is?)in the class-room.(在決定用are還是is以前，首先得決定students和teacher哪是主語，還是兩者都是主語。)

My guide is(or are?) the stars.(是guide還是stars是真正的主語?)

第二大類是主語是單數(shù)還是復(fù)數(shù)的問題。在這類中，決定主語是單數(shù)還是復(fù)數(shù)比決定哪個是主語更困難：

Billiards(單數(shù)還是復(fù)數(shù)?) is(or are?)my favorite game.

The phenomena(單數(shù)還是復(fù)數(shù)?) is(or are?) unbelievable.

The headquarters(單數(shù)還是復(fù)數(shù)?) is(or are?)in London.

1)第一大類：哪個是主語?

謂語動詞通常跟在主語后面，但有時卻放在主語前面，特別是在由who，which，how，when等疑問詞或助動詞引起的問句中：

Who are they?

Which does she like best?

Has your wife come back from Paris?

Are the guests celebrating her birthday?

在某些倒裝句中，謂語動詞有時放在主語前面：

If you are not satisfied，nor is Peter.

Never in my life have I forgot her.Nobody else can I love.

Hardly has Liz woken up when the sun rises.

“I feel bored.”“So is evrybody.”

在下面這類倒裝句中情況也如此。

There come many children.

Before the house stands a tree.

Before the house stand a tree and a bench(two things).

In the house there is a cat，(there is)a dog，and(thereare)three birds.(后面的there is，there are多省略，在acat前用is是對的。)

To Dick fall the duties of maintaining the family.

After Jan comes Nora.

Here's all the coins I have.(在口語中here's和there's和where's后可跟一復(fù)數(shù)名詞)

There's three friends waiting for me.

Where's the kids that stole the apples?

在下面這類句子中，補語或分詞提前，主語在is，was，are，were之后：

Gone are all my happy days!

Waiting for the results are thousands of people.Gathered under the roof were all the big shots.

兩個單數(shù)名詞由and連接可構(gòu)成復(fù)數(shù)主語：

John and Mary(=Two persons)are coming.

(但：John is coming and Mary is coming，too.)

My money and my friend are both gone.

Good coffee and bad are different from each other.

兩個人稱代詞由and連接也構(gòu)成復(fù)數(shù)主語：

He and I (=We)are friends.

Both you and he(=Both of you)are ill.

由every，any等詞修飾的幾個主語，盡管由and連接，仍然保持是單數(shù)：

Every boy and every girl is playing.

Any relative，any friend and any neighbour is ready to helphim.

Each grown-up and each child likes it.

No city，no village，no mountain，(and) no sea is a place ofsafety.

Many a man and many a woman has seen the accident.

兩個名詞前各加同一限定詞，表示是兩個人或兩樣?xùn)|西，謂語動詞要用復(fù)數(shù)：

A general and a statesman(two persons)were killed.

His home and his office are very far from my home.

A black and a white dog are playing in the yard.

一個不可數(shù)名詞，如有兩個形容詞修飾，而指兩樣?xùn)|西，動詞用復(fù)數(shù);否則用單數(shù)：

English and French grammar are different.

Sweet and sour pork is delicious.

如果主體詞重復(fù)，表示是兩樣?xùn)|西，動詞要用單數(shù)：

The situation before the war and the situation after are differ-ent.

What he said and what he thought were the same.

如作主語的兩個名詞用同一限定詞，指的是一個人或一樣?xùn)|西，動詞要用單數(shù)：

A general and statesman(one person)was killed.

His home and office(one place)is very far from my house.

A black and white dog(one dog) is playing.

What he said and thought was for others.

有時兩個名詞雖由and連接，但習(xí)慣上被看作是一樣?xùn)|西，這時動詞也用單數(shù)：

Bread and butter is enough for me.

Whisky and soda is his favourite.

Duck and peas is delicious，but eggs and bacon is better.

That cup and saucer is broken.

The wheel and axle is out of repair.

A needle and thread is all my grandmother needs.

Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy.

兩個抽象名詞一起用時，有時代表兩個東西，有時代表一個東西，動詞的單復(fù)數(shù)要根據(jù)意思來決定，有時兩者都可以(看我們?nèi)绾慰紤])：

The use and object of this are(or is)simple.

The stitching and binding of books are(or is)a hard job.

His courage and endurance are(or is)Great.

Sym pathy and understanding are(or is)required.

Trial and error(通常看作一個概念)is the best way tolearn.

All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.

The ebb and flow of one's fortune is a matter of course.

有時一個主語后跟一逗號，以及“and+名詞+副詞”，后面的動詞就常和第一個名詞一致。“and+名詞+副詞”可以看作一個省略的分句：

Mary，and her parents too(or also，likewise，as well)，isfond of John.(=Mary is fond of John，and her parents arefond of John，too.)

Mary，and perhaps(or particularly，even，certainly)herparents，is fond of John.(and+副詞+名詞)

Mary，but not her parents，is fond of John.

Mary's parents，but not Mary herself，are fond of John.(在跟有not時，可以用but代替and。)

單純數(shù)詞一般看作單數(shù)，如果有兩個數(shù)詞由and或time或其它詞連接，動詞可以用單數(shù)或復(fù)數(shù)形式：

Thirteen is an unlucky number.

Two and two make(or makes)four.

Eight plus five equals thirteen.(書面體)

Three fives are(or is)fifteen.(口語體)

Three times five are(or is)fifteen.

What are(or is)twice seven?

40 multiplied by 58 equals 2320.(書面體)

Five from nine(or Nine take away five)is(or leaves)four.(口語體)

Six hundred and one minus forty equals five hundred and six-ty-one.(書面體)

Three into twelve goes four.(口語體)

Two hundred fifty divided by fifty equals five.(書面體)如果數(shù)詞表示復(fù)數(shù)的人或東西，動詞也用復(fù)數(shù)形式：

Five(=Five Persons)were killed.

One and a half…為復(fù)數(shù)，而half a…為單數(shù)：

One and a half dollars were spent on sugar，and half a dollarwas Spent on flour.

A fine and/or imprisonment is(or are)not enough.

如果兩個主語由or或nor連接，動詞與最靠近的主語一致：Either you or I am right.

Neither Alice nor her parents like Mike.

One or two words are enough.(但是A word or two is e-nough.)

There is one or two examples.

Wang or rather his brothers decide the matter.

但：Life or(=and)death are nothing to me.

Whether John or Mary are willing to help me is still a problem.

兩個主語若由not only…but also…連接起來，動詞和最近的主語一致：

Not only my house，but many other houses have been white-washed.

(但最好說：Not only my house has been whitewashed，butmany other houses，too.)

Not only Mary's parents，but also Mary herself likes Mike.

There is not only Mary，but also Mary's parents.

如果主語后跟有介詞短語、連詞短語或是分詞短語，動詞仍與主語一致，不受中間插入成分的影響(注意主語后及短語后的逗號)：

Two girls，besides(介詞)Mary，are studying Malay.

All my sisters，except Lilian，study flower-arranging.

The street，with so many people going up and down，is dirty.

Lee，together with(介詞短語)his three brothers，has cometo our party.

The horses，along with their owner，fall into the river.

This problem，in addition to the other two，make me sad.

You，as well as(連詞短語)he，are mistaken.

The students，much more than the teacher，wish for a holi-day.

The teacher，as much as the students，wishes for a holiday.

Wang's friends，no less than Wang himself，wish for his suc-cess.

One apple，divided(分詞短語)by six children，is a thingunpleasant.

The manager，accompanied by his assistants，has gone out.

My schoolmates，including John，are kind to me.

All the members，not excepting the chairman，are arrived.

上面那種插在主語和謂語動詞之間的成分，也可移到句首，意思是差不多的：

Besides Mary，three students are studying Malay.

In addition to the other two，this problem makes me sad.

No less than Wang himself，Wang's friends wish for his suc-cess.

Accompanied by his assistants，the manager has gone out.

主語后面有時跟有of或其他介詞時，動詞仍和主語一致：One of the boys is sick.

The meeting of so many strangers broadens his view.

A cleanup of such a government is absolutely necessary.

The loss of his parents was too much for him.

A truckload of oranges costs about a thousand dollars.

Two spoons of sugar are just enough.

Two bottles of whisky are nothing to him.

Only five bags of rice are in stock.

Six cases of cholera are reported.

Signs of revolt are increasing every day.

This kind(or sort，type，class，species，breed，variety)ofcat is rare.

These kinds(or sorts，…)of flowers are rare.(口語體)

Flowers of this kind(or sort，…) are rare.(書面體)

One of the students，who speaks lrish，is her son.

One of the students who speak lrish is her son.

More children than one are infected.

Nobody but five workers is promoted.

Such people as John are wonderful.

The number of banks in this city is about forty.(但：A num-ber of banks are closed down.動詞和這類數(shù)詞短語后的名詞一致)

The average of absentees is four in each meeting.(但：Anaverage of four persons are absent in each meeting.)

The total of murders in this year is over two hundred.(但：A total of two hundred murders are committed this year.)

后面跟復(fù)數(shù)動詞的短語有：a majority of people，a variety ofreasons，a rain of bullets，a storm of stones，a flood of re-sources，a sea of faces，a trickle of tourists，a mountain ofwatermelons等等。

系動詞一般都和前面的主語一致，而不受后面補語的影響：My only pleasure is the movies.

The movies are my only pleasure.

Those stars are my only guide.

My only guide is those stars.

His food is fruit and milk.

Fruit and milk are his food.

Dogs are a pleasant trouble.

We are a football team.

主語后的同位語和補語一樣都不影響動詞的形式：

The movies，my only pleasure，are also my ruin.

Those stars，my only guide，are twinkling all the night.

His food，fruit and milk is delicious and nutritious.

They become master(or mistress)of the situation(or the Eng-lish language).

Many fall victim.

They seem to be our enemy.

They are always the victor.

The world appears too many for me.

The nation is but individuals.

Who is knocking?It seems to be John and Mary.

She is all eyes(or all tears，all smiles).

The room is all books and newspapers.

The street is all loiterers and beggars.

但：The following is my address(are their addresses).

在某些習(xí)慣用法中補語用復(fù)數(shù)形式，動詞仍與主語一致：

He is(or becomes，makes)great friends with John.

He is pals(or shipmates，partners) with you.

He is enemies with everyone.

I am quits with him.

不定式、動名詞或從句作主語時，盡管里面有復(fù)數(shù)名詞，動詞仍用單數(shù)形式：

For them to tell lies is very easy.

For us businessmen to know many people is necessary.Telling lies does not pay.

Visiting all European countries is my ambition.

What we want is good roads.

That they like power and wealth is true.

“It pours cats and dogs”means it rains heavily.

“Many happy returns”is a form of greeting on someboby's birthday.

在it引起的強調(diào)某句子成分的句子中，動詞用單數(shù)更好一些：

It is they who(代表it，而不代表 they)is(比 are好)wrong.

It is you that(代表 it，而不代表 you)often makes(比 make好) such mistakes.

但實際上用復(fù)數(shù)的人也不少。

2)第二大類：主語是單數(shù)還是復(fù)數(shù)?

數(shù)詞，不管是泛指還是特指，只要是指人或物，通常都跟有復(fù)數(shù)動詞：

Seven were killed.

Two are missing.

Few know it.

A few have been thrown away.

Several were wounded.

Hundreds have become homeless.

Both have come.

Thousands upon thousands were starved.

Some were killed，others were wounded.

A large variety of umbrellas are on sale.

A few are satisfied，but a great many are disappointed and very angry.

The majority(or generality)of human beings are selfish.

Fifty dozen of stockings have just arrived.

Ten pair(s)of gloves are on display.

Four yoke of oxen are coming.

Twenty head of cattle are grazing.

A number of articles are damaged.(但：The number of thir-teen is unlucky.)

One and a half(more than one) apples are entirely rotten.(但：One apple is rotten.)

No students are interested in this subject.(但：No student is interested in it.)

Many hours and days have been spent.(但：Many an hour and day has been wasted.)

More persons than one are suspected.(但：More than one per-son is suspected.

There is[or are]more than one person.)

量詞一般看作單數(shù)：

So much has already been done.

A large amount of money has been spent on agriculture.

A large quantity of food was left rotten.

Little has been done.

A little is enough.

A high degree of development is in sight.

A great deal was lost.

Too much vegetables(即使用復(fù)數(shù)) spoils my appetite.

Not much clothes is on sale in this small town.

Too much old books has been crammed into my head.

有些單詞或短語，若跟有不可數(shù)名詞，則成為量詞，因此是單數(shù)，如跟有可數(shù)名詞，則成為數(shù)詞，這時就成了復(fù)數(shù)：

There is enough(量詞)water.

There are enough(數(shù))rooms.

More water is required.

More trucks are required.

Some coffee has been ordered.

Some apples have been stolen.

NO milk was sold in this store.

No oranges were sweet in this season.

None of the money is wisely spent.

None of the houses are good to see.

Most of the milk was spilled out.

Most of the bananas were rotten.

A lot of money has been spent.

A lot of people have been invited.

Abundance of meat is consumed every day.

Abundance of watermelons are on sale.

Plenty of water is used in this city.

Plenty of pigs are killed every day.

Half of the liquor is alcohol.

Half of the inhabitants are workers.

Part of the money is spent on the movies.

Part of the books are damaged.

The rest of the cost was paid by him.

The rest of the children were still young.

Three fourths of the earth's surface is covered by water.

Three fourths of the residents are Chinese.

The bulk of his property has been sold.

The bulk of the inhabitants are Indians.

A mass of snow lies before my door.

A mass of people are gathering on the square.

A large percentage of profit has come to nothing.

A large percentage of crimes are due to alcohol.

A large proportion of his income is spent on liquor.

A large proportion of the residents are Arabs.

有些指示詞可以作單數(shù)也可以作復(fù)數(shù)：

All the city is clean and very beautiful.但：All the cities are clean and beautiful.

Anything good is good to him.但：Any streets in this city are familiar to him.

Someone(or Somebody) has come.但：Some friends have come.

Such a person is never happy.但：Such persons are always dissatisfied.

A certain boy has broken it.但：Certain boys have done it.

Another girl loves him.但：Other girls love him.

Each wears a cap.但：They each wear caps.

Either(or Neither)(作形容詞)party is right.

Either(or Neither)(作代詞)of the two parties has its good leader.

Either(or Neither)(作代詞) have their good leaders.(口語體)

Neither Jan，nor Helen，(nor) Belinda，nor Dorotby have come home.(口語體)

What，who，which可作單數(shù)也可作復(fù)數(shù)：

Who are(or is) waiting outside?

Which are(or is) yours?

What引起的從句多作單數(shù)：

What he is doing is trivial.

What made me sad was his unhappy marriage.

如果補語是一個復(fù)數(shù)名詞，what引起的從句也可作復(fù)數(shù)看待：

What children like are stories.

What seem to be boats are rocks.

這主要得根據(jù)情況決定，試比較下面句子：

What(= A thing that) seems to be a rat is something else.

What(= Things that) seem to be rats are some other ani-mals.

His family(作為整體)is large.

集體名詞可以表示一個集體，可以看作是單數(shù)，如果表示其成員，就可以作復(fù)數(shù)看待，特別是在英國：

His family(= The members of his family) are all well.

一個集體名詞若有every，each，a，this，that修飾，常常作單數(shù)看待：

Every family in this area is equipped with guns.

This club is devoted to the study of photography.

A committee is appointed to inquire into the matter.

The committee are at dinner.

The cavalry was repulsed.

The cavalry wear scarlet trousers.

This team is well organized.

Our(而不是 These)team are good players.

The company was organized by Mr.Johnson and they are mostly Americans.

The mob becomes more and more violent.

The mob were throwing up their caps and cheering.

This hotel is by the seaside.

All the hotel are startled at the alarm.

This class is a small one.

Our class are quarrelling among themselves.

The old couple(or pair)is happy.

The young couple(or pair) are quarrelling with each other.

但：This twin(one of the twins)is like the other.

These twins are like each other.

The litter of pups was born yesterday.(動物的集體)

The litter of pups were playing with each other.

Every herd of elephants in this area seems to be happy and free.

The flock of birds were flying about.

機關(guān)、團體、地方，例如 Bank of Japan，Labour Party，Hong Kong Sport Club，Ministry of Finance，the press，the city，the village，the neighbourhood等既可作單數(shù)也可作復(fù)數(shù)。在美國英語中，單數(shù)的集體名詞通常看作單數(shù)。在英國英語中，人或動物的單數(shù)集體名詞卻既可看作單數(shù)，也可看作復(fù)數(shù)，但無生命東西的集合體的單數(shù)名詞，如 cluster(of grapes)，collec-tion(of books)，bunch(of keys)，pair(of shoes，scissors，glasses)只看作是單數(shù)。

有些集體名詞通常作復(fù)數(shù)看待，但相應(yīng)表示其成員的詞，卻可有單數(shù)形式：

The nobility have become poor.

This nobleman has become poor.

The peasantry(or tenantry，yeomanry)were underfed.

The peasant(or tenant)was underfed.

The gentry are rich.

This gentleman is rich.

The police are well-trained.

That policeman is well-trained.

Mankind are destroying their own civilization.

Man is destroying his own civilization.

Humanity is destroying its own civilization.

The human beings are destroying their own civilization.

The laity are not able to understand this term.

A layman is not able to understand this term.

The clergy are opposed to it.

A clergywman is among us.

The cavalry have fought bravely.

This cavalryman has done something great.

The infantry were defeated.

Every infantryman was healthy and strong.

The militia are to defend their town.

No militiaman knows about the infiltration of the enemy.

The youth are the future of a nation.

A youth is waiting at the bus stop for his girlfriend.

The British(or English，Irish，Scotch，Spanish，Dutch，F(xiàn)rench)are....

A Briton(or Englishman，Irishman，Scotsman，Spaniard，Dutchman，F(xiàn)renchman)is....

有些集體名詞，形式上是單數(shù)，前面卻可以加數(shù)詞，后面跟復(fù)數(shù)動詞：

A hundred clergy are meeting.

Twenty police(=Twenty policemen)are coming.

Twenty thousand infantry are setting out.

Many gentry are opposed to the measure.

Those folk(s)(or people)are hard-headed.

His sixteen offspring are all working with him.

All his kindred are living in London.

Three million population of this city are well-fed.

Four thousand cattle are to be exported.

有些名詞經(jīng)常有-s或-es詞尾，它們都跟復(fù)數(shù)動詞：

The eaves are pretty.

Riches are not always dependable.

The odds are against us.(比較：What is the odds?——口語體)

Thanks are expressed.

Clothes are(Clothing is)not much needed here.

These goods are to be delivered.

另一些這類名詞是：archives，assets，belongings，earnings，grounds，rapids，nuptials，oats，premises，procceeds，quarters，remains，savings，scales，woods，winnings

有些疾病的名稱帶有-s詞尾，但都作單數(shù)看待：

The measles(or mumps，rickets，smallpox，shingles)is a disease very common in this village.

有些名詞通常帶-s或-es詞尾，它們后面既可跟單數(shù)動詞，也可跟復(fù)數(shù)動詞：

抽象名詞：

Every means(= method) has been used.All means(=methods) have been used.

An alms(or Much alms)was given to the poor.

These alms were given to the poor.

Great(or Much，Little)pains have(or has)been taken.

The tidings is(or are)bad.(比較：The news is—不能用are—bad.)

His wages are 3000 dollars a month.The wages of sin is death (old usage).A living wage is received only by a few work-ers.

An amends is necessary.These amends are satisfactory.

This species is rare.These species are valuable.

A series of battles was(or were)being fought.

Many series of battles have been fought.

地方名稱：

The headquarters of the trade is in London.The headquarters of these various trades are in London.

A barracks is standing on the hill.Some barracks are the largest in this country.

A(general)stores is located at the corner.Several new(gen-eral)stores are being set up.

A glass-works is being built.These two glass-works are the best in this area.

A golf-links(= golf-course)is in the eastern part of the city.

Some golf-links are very far from here.

A crossroads is usually dangerous，but some crossroads are safe.

A gallows is being set up.Some gallows are left idle.

A shambles has replaced the prosperous city.Many shambles present themselves to our eyes.

Kensington Gardens is a nice place.There are not many botanical gardens in this country.

A lodgings is easy to find.Many lodgings are for rent.

“Is there a public baths here?”“There are many public baths.”

A kennels is where dogs are bred.Some kennels sell precious dogs.

His whereabouts is(or are) unknown.

物件名稱：

The bellows(or scissors，pincers，tongs，forceps，shoes，pants，shorts，glasses，etc.)are lying in the corners.

A pair of bellows(or scissors，pincers，tongs，etc.) is lying idle.

有些動物的名字并不帶-s或-es詞尾，但可以用作復(fù)數(shù)或單數(shù)名詞：

Salmon(or Trout)(作為食品)is delicious.

These salmon(or trout) are caught in that river.

Fish(作為食品) is their only food.Three fishes are visible in the water.A lot of fish are caught.

Poultry(作為食品)is delicious.The poultry(作為活的動物)are drinking water.

The sheep is(or are)sleeping.

A deer is playing.Some deer are running.

有些名詞似乎不可數(shù)，卻可有單復(fù)兩種形式，有不同意義：

His career has reached its climax.Their careers have been suc-cessful.(一個人有一番事業(yè)。許多人有許多番事業(yè)。)

His beard is impressive.Their beards are long.

The mane of this horse is thin.The manes of those horses are thick.

His offspring is healthy.Their offsprings are all soldiers.

The population of this city is thin.The populations of these two cities are similar.

The language of the U.S.A.is English.The languages of Britain and the U.S.A.are almost the same.

The alphabet of English is twenty-six letters.

The alphabets of English and French are a little different from each other.

有些學(xué)科的名稱，雖以-s結(jié)尾，卻都作單數(shù)看待：

Mathematics is an important subject in schoo1.

Economics is a study of production and consumption.

Dramatics is his subject.And accoustics，too.

如果一個學(xué)科名稱用來表示某些實際事務(wù)，則可作為復(fù)數(shù)：

My mathematics are poor.

The economics of this country are stable.

Such politics are foolish.Such tactics are ridiculous.

Gymnastics are popular today.

The ethics of some politicians are doubtful.

Statistics on this subject are incorrect.

某些以-s結(jié)尾的游戲或球類名稱作為單數(shù)看待：

Billiards(or Bowls，Dominos，Draughts)is my favourite game.

但：Cards are not interesting to me.

以-ese結(jié)尾的國民名稱可作為單、復(fù)兩種形式：

That Japanese(or Chinese，Portuguese，Vietnamese)is my friends.

Those Japanese(or Chinese，Portuguese，Vietnamese) are my friends.

有些外來術(shù)語，有特別的單數(shù)及復(fù)數(shù)形式：

This axis(or medium，radius，larva，analysis，criterion，Phenomenon，oasis，libretto，soprano)is…(單數(shù)形式)

Those axes(or media，radii，larvae，analyses，criteria，phenomena，oases，libretti，soprani)are...(復(fù)數(shù)形式)

The data is(or are)...

由一個形容詞加the來代表一類人時，都作為復(fù)數(shù)：

The honest(= The honest people)are always trustworthy.

The poor are to be relieved.

The blind are unfortunate.

The strong，the rich，the wicked are respected as the wise.

The oppressed are to rise one day.

有個別這類形容詞代表單個的人，后面要跟單數(shù)動詞(這些多為法律用語)：

The dead(or deceased，departed)was fifty years of age.

The bereaved is(or are)still young.

The condemned(or accused)is absent.

His intended(or betrothed)is young.

有些形容詞加the后表示抽象概念或具體東西，但都作單數(shù)看待：

The beautiful(= Beauty)is the ideal of life.

The true looks less attractive than the false.

The familiar is always more desirable than the unknown.

The inside of the palace is more beautiful than the outside.(the inside=the inside part)

The white of an egg is full of protein.

長度、重量、時間等名稱多作單數(shù)看待：

Fifty dollars(= The sum of fifty dollars)is not a large sum.

Three yards(= The length of three yards)is not enough.

Six months(= The period of six months)is too short a time to learn anything.

Five kilograms(= The weight of five kilograms)is enough.這類帶數(shù)詞的名詞前還可加一個指示詞：

One short seven days is like seven years.

That three dollars(= That capital of three dollars)was the beginning of his career.

That second six months was happy indeed.

Every ten minutes is a trial.

A fortnight is not long enough to do the job.

This two kilograms of meat is enough for ten persons.

An estimated two thousand persons was killed in this hurri-cane.

A good ten miles is the distance we have climbed.

A happy three days has passed like a dream.

Such a weary six years was to me a terrible dream.

Ten apples(= Such a number of apples)is enough.

Two thousand immigrants is the quota for us this year.

如對組成部分加以強調(diào)，動詞也可用復(fù)數(shù)形式：

Fifty dollars are too expensive.

Three yards cost thirty dollars.

書名、電影名等，即使里面包含有復(fù)數(shù)名詞，也作單數(shù)看待：

Gulliver's Travels is my favourite book.

City lights is a famous movie.

Giants of the Earth is an opera.

The Canterbury Tales is(or are)very interesting.

復(fù)數(shù)的專有名詞都在后跟復(fù)數(shù)動詞：

The Philippines have seven thousand islands in the Pacific.The Himalayas are the roof of the world.

The Niagara Falls are the falls on the Niagara River.

The Great Lakes are a series of five lakes between the USA and Canada.

The Dardonelles are a strait 40 miles long and 1—4 miles wide.

The Pleiades are a cluster of stars in the constellation Taurus.

The Olympics are an international athletic competition held ev-ery four years.

其他復(fù)數(shù)專有名詞還有：the Canaries，the Solomon Islands;the Alps，the Rockies，the Urals，the Pyrenees，the Andes;the Graces，the Fates;the Netherlands

少數(shù)例外情況：

The USA is a wealthy and strong country.

The United Nations is an international organization working for the peace of the world.

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