1.一些集体名词,如family ,class作主语时,当作为整体看时,谓语动词用单数;如就其中的一个个成员来考虑时,谓语动词则用复数。例如:
My family is a big one.
My family are watching TV.
2.形式是复数,概念是单数。例如:
Here is the news.现在报告新闻。
Physics is a difficult science.物理是一门很难的学科。
maths,politics,physics等复数形式的名词表示学科名称时,谓语动词用单数。
His maths is weak.他的数学很差。
3.形式是复数和概念的变化。
某些复数名词,如glasses,clothes,trousers作主语时,谓语动词用复数。例如:
My glasses are on my nose.
但如果前面加了限量修饰语,谓语动词的数则应与该修饰语相一致。例如:
There is a suit of clothes on the bed.
This pair of shoes is twenty yuan.
4.“the +形容词”是复数的概念。
the poor(穷人),the rich(富人),the youn g(年轻人),the old(老人),the dead(死者),the brave(勇士),the sick(病人)……与谓语动词连用时,一般用复数。例如:
The rich never know what the poor have their minds.饱汉不知饿汉饥。