committee, class, school, union, firm, staff, public等，它们作主语时，谓语动词的数要根据语言内容而定。如果它们作为一个集体单位时，动词用单数形式，如就其中的各个成员来说，则谓语用复数形式。例如：

1）His family is going to move.

2）His family are very well.

3）The public is / are requested not to leave litter in the park.

注：如这类词后跟有定语从句时，定语从句的谓语动词也遵循概念一致的原则，强调具体成员时，谓语动词用复数，关系代词用who; 强调整体时，谓语动词用单数，关系代词用which。例如：

1）The government who were responsible for this event attempted to find a solution.

2）The government which was responsible for this event attempted to find a solution.

(2)有些表示总称意义的名词，形式上是单数，而意义上却是复数，谓语动词要用复数形式，如people, police, militia, cattle, poultry（家禽）等。例如：

1）Cattle were allowed to graze on the village common.

2）The police are searching for a tall dark man with a beard.

(3)有些名词形式上是复数，而意义上却是单数。如news, means, works.还有许多以ics结尾的学科名称，如economics, physics, mechanics, politics等，它们作主语时，谓语动词要用单数形式。例如：

1）Politics is a complicated business.

2）Here is the news.

(4)用and连接的单数主语，前面有each, every, many a, no等修饰时，谓语动词要用单数形式。复数主语与each连用时，应不受each的影响，谓语动词仍用复数形式。例如：

1) Each pen and each paper is found in its place.

2) Every boy and girl is treated in the same way.

3) Many a boy and many a girl has seen it.

4) The old workers and the young each have their own tools.

(5)表示重量、度量、衡量、价值的复数名词作主语，谓语动词常用单数形式。例如：