英语语法单一主语的主谓一致单一主语的主谓一致单数的主语跟单数的动词，复数的主语跟复数的动词，这是符合语法一致的原则。

但在实际运用中，往往会出现较为复杂的情况：A．形复意单的名词作主语形复意单的名词作主语（即形式为复数，意义为单数），按意义一致的原则，用作单数意义时，谓语用单数，反之，谓语用复数。

1. 许多学科名称，如mathematics, physics, economics, politics 等，以及news等名词作主语时，动词用单数。

Physics is required of every student in our school. 物理是我校每个学生的必修科目。

News is traveling fast nowadays. 当今新闻传播得很快。

2. 用作国名、组织机构、书名、报刊名等复数形式的专有名词作为整体对待，谓语用单数。

The United Nations has passed a resolution to lift sanctions against Iraq. 联合国通过了解除对伊制裁的决定。

The Times reports the news of the strike. 时代杂志报导了罢工的消息。

Great Expectations was written by Dickens in 1860. 《远大前程》是狄更斯于1860年写的。

注意：如果山脉、群岛、瀑布等名称作主语时，谓语动词用复数。

The Great Lakes lie between the USA and Canada. 五大湖在美国和加拿大两国之间。

The Philippines are in the western Pacific Ocean southeast of China. 菲律宾群岛在中国东南太平洋西部。

The Niagara Falls are the falls on the Niagara River. 尼亚加拉瀑布位于尼亚加拉河上。

3. 一些形复意单的名词，包括有成双成套部分的衣物或工具名称，作主语时，谓语用复数。

My blue trousers have been worn out. 我的蓝裤子已经穿破了。

His glasses are new. 他的眼镜是新的。

注意：这些名词如用a pair of 修饰时，谓语动词用单数。

The shoes are under the bed. 鞋在床下。

The pair of shoes is under the bed. 这双鞋在床下。

4. 单、复数同形名词作主语时，按意义一致的原则，用作单数意义时，谓语用单数；用作复数意义时，谓语用复数。

这类名词有：sheep, deer, fish, means, works, species, Chinese, Japanese等。

The (This) glass works was set up in 1986. 这家玻璃厂建于1986年。

The (These) glass works are near the railway station. 这些玻璃厂在火车站附近。

This species of rose is very rare. 这种玫瑰很稀有。

The species of fish are numerous. 鱼的种类很多。

Sheep are raised for wool. 养羊是为了剪毛。

There is a sheep under the tree. 树下有一只绵羊。

比较：当这类名词前有a, such a, this, that, every修饰时，谓语用单数；有all, such, these, those修饰时，谓语用复数。

Every means has been tried out without much result. 每一种方法都试过了却没什么结果。

All means have been tried out without much result. 所有方法都试过了却没什么结果。

B．集合名词作主语集合名词表示有若干个体组成的集合体，如army, audience, class, club, company, crowd, government, group, party, population, team, union等。

1. 集合名词作主语时，若表示整体概念，谓语动词用单数，若表示构成该集合体的成员，则谓语动词用复数。

His family are waiting for him. 他的家人正在等他。

But the man's family was small-only himself and his wife. 但那人的家庭很小，只有他本人和妻子。

One third of the population here are workers. 这里人口中有三分之一是工人。

The population of the earth is increasing every year. 地球上的人口每年都在增长。

2. 有些集合名词，如cattle, folk, people, police, youth等，作主语时，谓语动词用复数，即所谓的“形单意复”。

The police have caught the thief. 警察已经抓住了小偷。

The cattle are grazing in the field. 牛在田野里吃草。

Youth today are quite different from 20 years ago. 现在的年轻人和20年前大不一样。

Some folk are never satisfied. 有些人从不知足。

比较：几组集合名词作主语的句子。

The team is well organized. 这个队组织得很好。

The team are all tough players. 这个队的队员都很强壮。

All the class were jumping with joy. 全班同学都高兴地跳了起来。

The class is made up of 54 students. 这班由54名学生组成。

The young couple is happy. 这对年轻夫妇很幸福。

The young couple are quarrelling with each other. 这对年轻夫妇正在吵架。

The village is at the foot of the mountain. 这个村子在山脚下。

All the village are out to greet him. 全村人都出来欢迎他。

3．有些无生命（表示物）的集合名词作主语，谓语用单数。

All the furniture in my room is new. 我房间里的家具都是新的。

Warm clothing is necessary in cold climates. 在寒冷的气候中，保暖的衣服是必需的。

The machinery is driven by electricity. 这些机器是由电力驱动的。

Has your luggage arrived yet 你的行李已经运到了吗？A lot of hiking equipment is needed here. 这里需要大量徒步旅行的装备。

C．代词作主语1．名词性物主代词作主语时，既可以用作单数，也可以用作复数，这取决于它所代替的是单数还是复数。

Ours is a great country. 我们的（国家）是一个伟大的国家。

(ours = our country)Your shoes are black, and mine are brown. 你的鞋是黑色的，我的(鞋)是棕色的。

( mine=my shoes)2．such, the same等指示代词作主语时，应根据其所指的内容来决定单、复数。

Such was Albert Einstein, a simple man with great achievements. 爱因斯坦就是这样一个俭朴而又取得巨大成就的人。

Such are her wishes. 她的愿望就这些。

3．关系代词who, that, which等在定语从句中作主语时，其谓语动词的数应与主句中先行词的数一致。

Those who want to go for a picnic please put up your hands. 那些想去野餐的人请举手。

Some of the energy that is used by man comes from the sun. 一些被人类使用的能量来自于太阳注意：在one of+复数名词+whothatwhich 引导的定语从句结构中，关系代词whothatwhich的先行词是靠近它的复数名词而不是one，因此，从句中的动词应该是复数形式。

但当one之前有the, the only 等修饰语时，关系代词的先行词是one，而不是靠近它的复数名词，因此从句的动词应是单数形式。

This is one of the best films that have been shown this year. 这是今年所放的最佳电影中的一部。

She is the only one of the girls who sings best. 她是这么多女孩中唯一歌唱得最好的。

4．疑问代词who, what, which作主语时，谓语动词可根据说话人所要表达的意思决定单、复数。

Who lives upstairs It is Xiao Wang. 谁住在楼上？小王。

Who live next door It is Li and Zhang. 谁住在隔壁？李和张。

5．不定代词作主语时，有以下两种情况：①some, all, any, none, more, most等词可以指复数名词和不可数名词，它们作主语时，视其文中的意义，判断动词用单数还是复数的形式。

Now all has been changed. 一切都已改变。

All are present today, Mr Li. answered the monitor. 班长回答说：李老师，今天大家全到了。

None is so good as he. 没有人像他那么好。

None are so good as those who are always ready to help others. 没有人像那些总是乐于助人的人那么好。

提示：在口语中，none of + 复数名词作主语，谓语动词用单数或复数均可，要以说话人所想的而定。