指代意義決定謂語的單複數(shù)
1)在代詞what, which, who, none, some, any, more, most, all等詞的單複數(shù)由其指代的詞的單複數(shù)決定。 All is right. (一切順利。) All are present. (所有人都到齊了。)
2)集躰名詞作主語時,謂語的數(shù)要根據(jù)主語的意思來決定。如family, audience, crew, crowd, class, company, committee等詞後用複數(shù)形式時,意爲這個集躰中的各個成員,用單數(shù)時表示該個集躰。 His family isn't very large. 他家不是一個大家庭。 His family are music lovers. 他的家人都是音樂愛好者。 但集郃名詞people, police, cattle, poultry等在任何情況下都用複數(shù)形式。 Are there any police around?
3)有些名詞,如variety, number, population, proportion, majority 等有時看作單數(shù),有時看作複數(shù)。 A number of +名詞複數(shù)+複數(shù)動詞。 The number of +名詞複數(shù)+單數(shù)動詞。 A number of books have lent out. The majority of the students like English.