9. 形复意单名词如:news ; 以ics 结尾的学科名称如: physics, mathematics, economics; 国名如: the United States; 报纸名如: the New Times; 书名如: Arabian Night <天方夜谈>; 以及The United Nations<联合国> 等作主语时, 谓语动词用单数。
10. "a +名词+and a half ", "one and a half + 名词", "the number of + 名词" 等作主语时, 谓语动词要用单数. 如:
Only one and a half apples is left on the table.
注意: one or two + 复数名词作主语, 谓语动词用复数形式, 如:
One or two places have been visited. 参观了一两个地点。
(二) 内容一致原则:
1.主语中有all, half, most, the rest,what等, 以及"分数或百分数+名词"做主语时,谓语动词单复数取决于连用的名词.如:
The rest of the bikes are on sale today. 剩下的自行车, 今天出售。
60%of the apple was eaten by little boy. 这个苹果的60%都被这个小男孩吃了。
Most of the apples were rotten. 大部分的苹果都是烂的。
Most of the apple was eaten by a rat. 这个苹果的大部分被老鼠吃了。
2. 不定数量的词组, 如:part of , a lot of , lots of , one of , a number of , plenty of等作主语时, 谓语动词的单复数取决于量词后面名词的数.如:
A part of the textbooks have arrived. 一小部分教科书已运到。
A part of the apple has been eaten up by the pig. 这个苹果的一部分被猪吃光了。
3. 加减乘除用单数.如:
Fifteen minus five is ten . 15减去5等于10。
4. 表示时间, 金钱, 距离, 度量等的名词做主语时, 尽管是复数形式, 它们做为一个单一的概念时, 其谓语动词用单数.如:
Ten miles is a good distance. 十英里是一个相当的距离。 5. (1) 通常作复数的集体名词. 包括police , people, cattle 等, 这些集体名词通常用作复数.如:
The British police have only very limited powers.
(2) 通常作不可数名词的集体名词. 包括equipment, furniture, clothing, luggage, population, jewellery, traffic等.
(3) 可作单数也可作复数的集体名词. 包括 audience, committee, government, family, enemy, group, party, team, public, class 等.如:
The committee has/have decided to dismiss him. 委员会决定解雇他。
6. the +形容词/过去分词形式"表示一类人或事物,例如:the rich, the young, the old, the poor, the disabled,the dead 等作主语时, 谓语动词用复数.如:
The injured were saved after the fire.
7. 有些词的单复数同形,如;deer, sheep, spicies, means,等我们要根据它们在句子中的实际意义而定。Eg. Every means has been tried, but all means are not fit for the problem. (三) 就近原则 1. 由here, there, where 等引导的倒装句中, (有时主语不止一个时)谓语动词与靠近它的主语在数上一致.如:
Here comes the bus 公共汽车来了.
Here is a pen and some pieces of paper for you. 给你一支钢笔和几张纸。