1)代詞what, which, who, none, some, any, more, most, all等詞的單復(fù)數(shù)由其指代的詞的單復(fù)數(shù)決定。例如:
All is right.一切順利。
All are present.人都到齊了。
2)集體名詞作主語時,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等詞后,謂語動詞用復(fù)數(shù)形式時強調(diào)這個集體中的各個成員,用單數(shù)時強調(diào)該集體的整體。例如:
His family isn’t very large. 他家成員不多。
His family are music lovers.他家個個都是音樂愛好者。
但集合名詞people, police, cattle, poultry等在任何情況下都用復(fù)數(shù)形式。例如:
Are there any police around? 附近有警察嗎?
3)有些名詞,如variety, number, population, proportion, majority 等有時看作單數(shù),有時看作復(fù)數(shù)。例如:
A number of +名詞復(fù)數(shù)+復(fù)數(shù)動詞。
The number of +名詞復(fù)數(shù)+單數(shù)動詞。
A number of books have lent out.
The majority of the students like English.