1、 由连接词and或both ... and连接起来的合成主语后面，要用复数形式的谓语动词。

　　例如：Lucy and Lily are twins. / She and I are classmates. / The boy and the girl were surprised

when they heard the news. / Both she and he are Young Pioneers.

注意：① 若and所连接的两个词是指同一个人或物时（共用一个冠词），它后面的谓语动词就应用单数形式。例如：The writer and artist has come.; / ② 由and连接的并列单数主语前如果分别有no, each, every修饰时，其谓语动词要用单数形式。

　　　例如：Every student and every teacher was in the room.. / No boy and no girl likes it.

2、 either, neither, each, every 或no +单数名词和由some, any, no, every构成的复合不定代词，都作单数看待。

　　例如：Each of us has a new book. / Everything around us is matter.

　　注意：① 在口语中当either或neither后跟有"of+复数名词（或代词）"作主语时，其谓语动词也可用复数。如：Neither of the texts is (are) interesting. ② 若none of后面的名词是不可数名词，它的谓语动词就要用单数；若它后面的名词是复数，它的谓语动词用单数或复数都可以。

　　例如：None of us has (have) been to America.

4、在定语从句中，关系代词that(人/物), who(人), which(物)等作主语时，其谓语动词的数应与句中先行词的数一致。

例如：He is one of my friends who are working hard. / He is the only one of my friends who is working hard.

3、 如果集体名词指的是整个集体，它的谓语动词用单数；如果它指集体的成员，其谓语动词就用复数形式。这些词有family, class, crowd, committee, population, audience等。

　　例如：Class Four is on the third floor. / Class Four are unable to agree upon a monitor.

　　注意：1）有生命的集体名词作主语时，谓语动词只用复数形式。常见此类名词有：people, police, cattle(牛), folk, youth, mankind, vermin(害虫), personnel(全体人员), clergy(神职人员), militia(民兵), gentry(绅士们)等名词一般都用作复数。

　　例如：The police are looking for the lost child.

2）无生命的集体名词作主语时，谓语动词用单数形式。常见此类名词有：scenery, weaponry, machinery, clothing, poetry, jewelry, millinery, underwear, glasswear等。

　　例如： Much of her jewelry was missing.

6、单复数名词同型的名词作主语时，谓语形式要根据句义来确定。

常见此类名词有：aircraft, deer, fish, means, sheep, species, series, works, crossroads, antelope, salmon(鲑鱼), trout(鲟鱼)等。

例如：Every means has been tried.

The means of communication between here and outside are interrupted. 这里同外界的通讯工具都中断了。

7、trousers, glasses, clothes, shoes, shorts(短裤), woods, savings, compasses, belongings, thanks, jeans, surroundings, effects, goods, gloves, customs, shades,等常用作复数或只有复数形式的名词作主语时，谓语用复数，但如果这些名词前有pair等量词修饰时，谓语动词单复数要根据pair等量词的单复数来决定。

例如：My glasses are broken. / The pair of shoes under the bed is his.

Several clusters of grapes are on the table.

注：pains(辛苦)虽为复数形式，但不可用many修饰，要用great, much, a great deal of等修饰，谓语动词用单复数均可。

例如：Much pains has(/have) been taken to keep the plan secret.

就近原则：在英语句子中，有时谓语动词的人称和数与最近的主语保持一致。