1)代词what, which, who, none, some, any, more, most, all等词的单复数由其指代的词的单复数决定。例如：

All is right.　一切顺利。

All are present.　人都到齐了。

2)集体名词作主语时，谓语的数要根据主语的意思来决定。如family, audience, crew, crowd, class, company, committee等词后，谓语动词用复数形式时强调这个集体中的各个成员，用单数时强调该集体的整体。例如：

His family isn't very large. 他家成员不多。

His family are music lovers.　他家个个都是音乐爱好者。

但集合名词people, police, cattle, poultry等在任何情况下都用复数形式。例如：

Are there any police around? 附近有警察吗?

3)有些名词，如variety, number, population, proportion, majority 等有时看作单数，有时看作复数。例如：

A number of +名词复数+复数动词。

The number of +名词复数+单数动词。

A number of books have lent out.

The majority of the students like English.

15.6 与后接名词或代词保持一致

1)用half of, most of, none of, heaps of, lots of, plenty of 等引起主语时，谓语动词通常与of后面的名词/代词保持一致。例如：

Most of his money is spent on books. 他大部分的钱化在书上了。

Most of the students are taking an active part in sports. 大部分学生积极参与体育运动。

2)用a portion of, a series of, a pile of, a panel of 等引起主语时，谓语动词通常用单数。例如：

A series of accidents has been reported. 媒体报道了一连串的事故。

A pile of lots was set beside the hearth. 炉边有一堆木柴。

3)如 many a 或 more than one 所修饰的短语作主语时，谓语动词多用单数形式。但由more than… of 作主语时，动词应与其后的名词或代词保持一致。例如：

Many a person has read the novel.　许多人读过这本书。

More than 60 percent of the students are from the city.百分之六十多的学生来自这个城市。