2022年初中英语：谓语动词和主语的一致

2022年初中英语：谓语动词和主语的一致

谓语动词和主语的一致

有些谓语动词必须和主语在人称和数上保持一致，特别是动词为现在时态时。在一般现在时中，若主语为第三人称单数，多数动词都要加-s或-es，如：Hecomes.Marycries。如果主语不是第三人称单数，就不需加这样的词尾，如：Icome.

Theycry.而且，不管是作主要动词还是助动词，在第三人称单数的主语后都得用is，has，does这种形式，否则用are，am，have或do。至于can，may，must这些助动词，在各种人称后形式不变：

He(orShe，It，Myfriend)comes(orsees，goes).

He(orShe，It，Myfriend)iswaiting，hascome，doesgo，(is，has，does作助动词)iskind，hasafunnyface，doesnothingatall.(is，has，does作主要动词)

I(orwe，You，They，Myfriends)come(orsee，go).

Iamwaiting，havecome，dogo.We(orYou，They，Myfriends)arewaiting，havecome，dogo.(am，are，have，do作助动词)

Iamsorry.Theyarekind，havefunnyfaces，donothingatall.(am，are，have，do作主要动词)

任何主语+must(orcan，may，oughtto，neednot，darenot)come(orsee，go).

过去时可和住何主语一起用，只有was和were是例外。was和第一第三人称单数主语一起用，其他主语都和were一起用，如：

Hewasill.Iwasill.Theywereill.

在将来时中主要是用shall或will，不需加词尾，如：

They(orJohnandMary)willcome，shallcome.

He(orIt)willcome，shallcome.

?判断主语的人称不难，但判断它的数有时却并不容易。至少有39种有关数上一致的问题，它们可以分为两大类。

第一大类是哪个是主语的问题。在这类中，决定哪个词或词组是主语比决定某个主语是单数还是复数更困难。以下面句子为例：

Thestudents，aswellastheteacher，are(oris?)intheclass-room.(在决定用are还是is以前，首先得决定students和teacher哪是主语，还是两者都是主语。)

Myguideis(orare?)thestars.(是guide还是stars是真正的主语?)

第二大类是主语是单数还是复数的问题。在这类中，决定主语是单数还是复数比决定哪个是主语更困难：

Billiards(单数还是复数?)is(orare?)myfavoritegame.

Thephenomena(单数还是复数?)is(orare?)unbelievable.

Theheadquarters(单数还是复数?)is(orare?)inLondon.

1)第一大类：哪个是主语?

谓语动词通常跟在主语后面，但有时却放在主语前面，特别是在由who，which，how，when等疑问词或助动词引起的问句中：

Whoarethey?

Whichdoesshelikebest?

HasyourwifecomebackfromParis?

Aretheguestscelebratingherbirthday?

在某些倒装句中，谓语动词有时放在主语前面：

Ifyouarenotsatisfied，norisPeter.

NeverinmylifehaveIforgother.NobodyelsecanIlove.

HardlyhasLizwokenupwhenthesunrises.

“Ifeelbored.”“Soisevrybody.”

在下面这类倒装句中情况也如此。

Therecomemanychildren.

Beforethehousestandsatree.

Beforethehousestandatreeandabench(twothings).

Inthehousethereisacat，(thereis)adog，and(thereare)threebirds.(后面的thereis，thereare多省略，在acat前用is是对的。)

ToDickfallthedutiesofmaintainingthefamily.

AfterJancomesNora.

HeresallthecoinsIhave.(在口语中heres和theres和wheres后可跟一复数名词)

Theresthreefriendswaitingforme.

Wheresthekidsthatstoletheapples?

在下面这类句子中，补语或分词提前，主语在is，was，are，were之后：

Goneareallmyhappydays!

Waitingfortheresultsarethousandsofpeople.Gatheredundertheroofwereallthebigshots.

两个单数名词由and连接可构成复数主语：

JohnandMary(=Twopersons)arecoming.

(但：JohniscomingandMaryiscoming，too.)

Mymoneyandmyfriendarebothgone.

Goodcoffeeandbadaredifferentfromeachother.

两个人称代词由and连接也构成复数主语：

HeandI(=We)arefriends.

Bothyouandhe(=Bothofyou)areill.

由every，any等词修饰的几个主语，尽管由and连接，仍然保持是单数：

Everyboyandeverygirlisplaying.

Anyrelative，anyfriendandanyneighbourisreadytohelphim.

Eachgrown-upandeachchildlikesit.

Nocity，novillage，nomountain，(and)noseaisaplaceofsafety.

Manyamanandmanyawomanhasseentheaccident.

两个名词前各加同一限定词，表示是两个人或两样东西，谓语动词要用复数：

Ageneralandastatesman(twopersons)werekilled.

Hishomeandhisofficeareveryfarfrommyhome.

Ablackandawhitedogareplayingintheyard.

一个不可数名词，如有两个形容词修饰，而指两样东西，动词用复数;否则用单数：

EnglishandFrenchgrammararedifferent.

Sweetandsourporkisdelicious.

如果主体词重复，表示是两样东西，动词要用单数：

Thesituationbeforethewarandthesituationafterarediffer-ent.

Whathesaidandwhathethoughtwerethesame.

如作主语的两个名词用同一限定词，指的是一个人或一样东西，动词要用单数：

Ageneralandstatesman(oneperson)waskilled.

Hishomeandoffice(oneplace)isveryfarfrommyhouse.

Ablackandwhitedog(onedog)isplaying.

Whathesaidandthoughtwasforothers.

有时两个名词虽由and连接，但习惯上被看作是一样东西，这时动词也用单数：

Breadandbutterisenoughforme.

Whiskyandsodaishisfavourite.

Duckandpeasisdelicious，buteggsandbaconisbetter.

Thatcupandsaucerisbroken.

Thewheelandaxleisoutofrepair.

Aneedleandthreadisallmygrandmotherneeds.

RomeoandJulietisatragedy.

两个抽象名词一起用时，有时代表两个东西，有时代表一个东西，动词的单复数要根据意思来决定，有时两者都可以(看我们如何考虑)：

Theuseandobjectofthisare(oris)simple.

Thestitchingandbindingofbooksare(oris)ahardjob.

Hiscourageandenduranceare(oris)Great.

Sympathyandunderstandingare(oris)required.

Trialanderror(通常看作一个概念)isthebestwaytolearn.

AllworkandnoplaymakesJackadullboy.

Theebbandflowofonesfortuneisamatterofcourse.

有时一个主语后跟一逗号，以及“and+名词+副词”，后面的动词就常和第一个名词一致。“and+名词+副词”可以看作一个省略的分句：

Mary，andherparentstoo(oralso，likewise，aswell)，isfondofJohn.(=MaryisfondofJohn，andherparentsarefondofJohn，too.)

Mary，andperhaps(orparticularly，even，certainly)herparents，isfondofJohn.(and+副词+名词)

Mary，butnotherparents，isfondofJohn.

Marysparents，butnotMaryherself，arefondofJohn.(在跟有not时，可以用but代替and。)

单纯数词一般看作单数，如果有两个数词由and或time或其它词连接，动词可以用单数或复数形式：

Thirteenisanunluckynumber.

Twoandtwomake(ormakes)four.

Eightplusfiveequalsthirteen.(书面体)

Threefivesare(oris)fifteen.(口语体)

Threetimesfiveare(oris)fifteen.

Whatare(oris)twiceseven?

40multipliedby58equals2320.(书面体)

Fivefromnine(orNinetakeawayfive)is(orleaves)four.(口语体)

Sixhundredandoneminusfortyequalsfivehundredandsix-ty-one.(书面体)

Threeintotwelvegoesfour.(口语体)

Twohundredfiftydividedbyfiftyequalsfive.(书面体)如果数词表示复数的人或东西，动词也用复数形式：

Five(=FivePersons)werekilled.

Oneandahalf...为复数，而halfa...为单数：

Oneandahalfdollarswerespentonsugar，andhalfadollarwasSpentonflour.

Afineand/orimprisonmentis(orare)notenough.

如果两个主语由or或nor连接，动词与最靠近的主语一致：EitheryouorIamright.

NeitherAlicenorherparentslikeMike.

Oneortwowordsareenough.(但是Awordortwoise-nough.)

Thereisoneortwoexamples.

Wangorratherhisbrothersdecidethematter.

但：Lifeor(=and)deatharenothingtome.

WhetherJohnorMaryarewillingtohelpmeisstillaproblem.

两个主语若由notonly...butalso...连接起来，动词和最近的主语一致：

Notonlymyhouse，butmanyotherhouseshavebeenwhite-washed.

(但最好说：Notonlymyhousehasbeenwhitewashed，butmanyotherhouses，too.)

NotonlyMarysparents，butalsoMaryherselflikesMike.

ThereisnotonlyMary，butalsoMarysparents.

如果主语后跟有介词短语、连词短语或是分词短语，动词仍与主语一致，不受中间插入成分的影响(注意主语后及短语后的逗号)：

Twogirls，besides(介词)Mary，arestudyingMalay.

Allmysisters，exceptLilian，studyflower-arranging.

Thestreet，withsomanypeoplegoingupanddown，isdirty.

Lee，togetherwith(介词短语)histhreebrothers，hascometoourparty.

Thehorses，alongwiththeirowner，fallintotheriver.

Thisproblem，inadditiontotheothertwo，makemesad.

You，aswellas(连词短语)he，aremistaken.

Thestudents，muchmorethantheteacher，wishforaholi-day.

Theteacher，asmuchasthestudents，wishesforaholiday.

Wangsfriends，nolessthanWanghimself，wishforhissuc-cess.

Oneapple，divided(分词短语)bysixchildren，isathingunpleasant.

Themanager，accompaniedbyhisassistants，hasgoneout.

Myschoolmates，includingJohn，arekindtome.

Allthemembers，notexceptingthechairman，arearrived.

上面那种插在主语和谓语动词之间的成分，也可移到句首，意思是差不多的：

BesidesMary，threestudentsarestudyingMalay.

Inadditiontotheothertwo，thisproblemmakesmesad.

NolessthanWanghimself，Wangsfriendswishforhissuc-cess.

Accompaniedbyhisassistants，themanagerhasgoneout.

主语后面有时跟有of或其他介词时，动词仍和主语一致：Oneoftheboysissick.

Themeetingofsomanystrangersbroadenshisview.

Acleanupofsuchagovernmentisabsolutelynecessary.

Thelossofhisparentswastoomuchforhim.

Atruckloadoforangescostsaboutathousanddollars.

Twospoonsofsugararejustenough.

Twobottlesofwhiskyarenothingtohim.

Onlyfivebagsofriceareinstock.

Sixcasesofcholeraarereported.

Signsofrevoltareincreasingeveryday.

Thiskind(orsort，type，class，species，breed，variety)ofcatisrare.

Thesekinds(orsorts，...)offlowersarerare.(口语体)

Flowersofthiskind(orsort，...)arerare.(书面体)

Oneofthestudents，whospeakslrish，isherson.

Oneofthestudentswhospeaklrishisherson.

Morechildrenthanoneareinfected.

Nobodybutfiveworkersispromoted.

SuchpeopleasJohnarewonderful.

Thenumberofbanksinthiscityisaboutforty.(但：Anum-berofbanksarecloseddown.动词和这类数词短语后的名词一致)

Theaverageofabsenteesisfourineachmeeting.(但：Anaverageoffourpersonsareabsentineachmeeting.)

Thetotalofmurdersinthisyearisovertwohundred.(但：Atotaloftwohundredmurdersarecommittedthisyear.)

后面跟复数动词的短语有：amajorityofpeople，avarietyofreasons，arainofbullets，astormofstones，afloodofre-sources，aseaoffaces，atrickleoftourists，amountainofwatermelons等等。

系动词一般都和前面的主语一致，而不受后面补语的影响：Myonlypleasureisthemovies.

Themoviesaremyonlypleasure.

Thosestarsaremyonlyguide.

Myonlyguideisthosestars.

Hisfoodisfruitandmilk.

Fruitandmilkarehisfood.

Dogsareapleasanttrouble.

Weareafootballteam.

主语后的同位语和补语一样都不影响动词的形式：

Themovies，myonlypleasure，arealsomyruin.

Thosestars，myonlyguide，aretwinklingallthenight.

Hisfood，fruitandmilkisdeliciousandnutritious.

Theybecomemaster(ormistress)ofthesituation(ortheEng-lishlanguage).

Manyfallvictim.

Theyseemtobeourenemy.

Theyarealwaysthevictor.

Theworldappearstoomanyforme.

Thenationisbutindividuals.

Whoisknocking?ItseemstobeJohnandMary.

Sheisalleyes(oralltears，allsmiles).

Theroomisallbooksandnewspapers.

Thestreetisallloiterersandbeggars.

但：Thefollowingismyaddress(aretheiraddresses).

在某些习惯用法中补语用复数形式，动词仍与主语一致：

Heis(orbecomes，makes)greatfriendswithJohn.

Heispals(orshipmates，partners)withyou.

Heisenemieswitheveryone.

Iamquitswithhim.

不定式、动名词或从句作主语时，尽管里面有复数名词，动词仍用单数形式：

Forthemtotellliesisveryeasy.

Forusbusinessmentoknowmanypeopleisnecessary.Tellingliesdoesnotpay.

VisitingallEuropeancountriesismyambition.

Whatwewantisgoodroads.

Thattheylikepowerandwealthistrue.

“Itpourscatsanddogs”meansitrainsheavily.

“Manyhappyreturns”isaformofgreetingonsomebobysbirthday.

在it引起的强调某句子成分的句子中，动词用单数更好一些：

Itistheywho(代表it，而不代表they)is(比are好)wrong.

Itisyouthat(代表it，而不代表you)oftenmakes(比make好)suchmistakes.

但实际上用复数的人也不少。

2)第二大类：主语是单数还是复数?

数词，不管是泛指还是特指，只要是指人或物，通常都跟有复数动词：

Sevenwerekilled.

Twoaremissing.

Fewknowit.

Afewhavebeenthrownaway.

Severalwerewounded.

Hundredshavebecomehomeless.

Bothhavecome.

Thousandsuponthousandswerestarved.

Somewerekilled，otherswerewounded.

Alargevarietyofumbrellasareonsale.

Afewaresatisfied，butagreatmanyaredisappointedandveryangry.

Themajority(orgenerality)ofhumanbeingsareselfish.

Fiftydozenofstockingshavejustarrived.

Tenpair(s)ofglovesareondisplay.

Fouryokeofoxenarecoming.

Twentyheadofcattlearegrazing.

Anumberofarticlesaredamaged.(但：Thenumberofthir-teenisunlucky.)

Oneandahalf(morethanone)applesareentirelyrotten.(但：Oneappleisrotten.)

Nostudentsareinterestedinthissubject.(但：Nostudentisinterestedinit.)

Manyhoursanddayshavebeenspent.(但：Manyanhouranddayhasbeenwasted.)

Morepersonsthanonearesuspected.(但：Morethanoneper-sonissuspected.

Thereis[orare]morethanoneperson.)

量词一般看作单数：

Somuchhasalreadybeendone.

Alargeamountofmoneyhasbeenspentonagriculture.

Alargequantityoffoodwasleftrotten.

Littlehasbeendone.

Alittleisenough.

Ahighdegreeofdevelopmentisinsight.

Agreatdealwaslost.

Toomuchvegetables(即使用复数)spoilsmyappetite.

Notmuchclothesisonsaleinthissmalltown.

Toomucholdbookshasbeencrammedintomyhead.

有些单词或短语，若跟有不可数名词，则成为量词，因此是单数，如跟有可数名词，则成为数词，这时就成了复数：

Thereisenough(量词)water.

Thereareenough(数)rooms.

Morewaterisrequired.

Moretrucksarerequired.

Somecoffeehasbeenordered.

Someappleshavebeenstolen.

NOmilkwassoldinthisstore.

Noorangesweresweetinthisseason.

Noneofthemoneyiswiselyspent.

Noneofthehousesaregoodtosee.

Mostofthemilkwasspilledout.

Mostofthebananaswererotten.

Alotofmoneyhasbeenspent.

Alotofpeoplehavebeeninvited.

Abundanceofmeatisconsumedeveryday.

Abundanceofwatermelonsareonsale.

Plentyofwaterisusedinthiscity.

Plentyofpigsarekilledeveryday.

Halfoftheliquorisalcohol.

Halfoftheinhabitantsareworkers.

Partofthemoneyisspentonthemovies.

Partofthebooksaredamaged.

Therestofthecostwaspaidbyhim.

Therestofthechildrenwerestillyoung.

Threefourthsoftheearthssurfaceiscoveredbywater.

ThreefourthsoftheresidentsareChinese.

Thebulkofhispropertyhasbeensold.

ThebulkoftheinhabitantsareIndians.

Amassofsnowliesbeforemydoor.

Amassofpeoplearegatheringonthesquare.

Alargepercentageofprofithascometonothing.

Alargepercentageofcrimesareduetoalcohol.

Alargeproportionofhisincomeisspentonliquor.

AlargeproportionoftheresidentsareArabs.

有些指示词可以作单数也可以作复数：

Allthecityiscleanandverybeautiful.但：Allthecitiesarecleanandbeautiful.

Anythinggoodisgoodtohim.但：Anystreetsinthiscityarefamiliartohim.

Someone(orSomebody)hascome.但：Somefriendshavecome.

Suchapersonisneverhappy.但：Suchpersonsarealwaysdissatisfied.

Acertainboyhasbrokenit.但：Certainboyshavedoneit.

Anothergirlloveshim.但：Othergirlslovehim.

Eachwearsacap.但：Theyeachwearcaps.

Either(orNeither)(作形容词)partyisright.

Either(orNeither)(作代词)ofthetwopartieshasitsgoodleader.

Either(orNeither)(作代词)havetheirgoodleaders.(口语体)

NeitherJan，norHelen，(nor)Belinda，norDorotbyhavecomehome.(口语体)

What，who，which可作单数也可作复数：

Whoare(oris)waitingoutside?

Whichare(oris)yours?

What引起的从句多作单数：

Whatheisdoingistrivial.

Whatmademesadwashisunhappymarriage.

如果补语是一个复数名词，what引起的从句也可作复数看待：

Whatchildrenlikearestories.

Whatseemtobeboatsarerocks.

这主要得根据情况决定，试比较下面句子：

What(=Athingthat)seemstobearatissomethingelse.

What(=Thingsthat)seemtoberatsaresomeotherani-mals.

Hisfamily(作为整体)islarge.

集体名词可以表示一个集体，可以看作是单数，如果表示其成员，就可以作复数看待，特别是在英国：

Hisfamily(=Themembersofhisfamily)areallwell.

一个集体名词若有every，each，a，this，that修饰，常常作单数看待：

Everyfamilyinthisareaisequippedwithguns.

Thisclubisdevotedtothestudyofphotography.

Acommitteeisappointedtoinquireintothematter.

Thecommitteeareatdinner.

Thecavalrywasrepulsed.

Thecavalrywearscarlettrousers.

Thisteamiswellorganized.

Our(而不是These)teamaregoodplayers.

ThecompanywasorganizedbyMr.JohnsonandtheyaremostlyAmericans.

Themobbecomesmoreandmoreviolent.

Themobwerethrowinguptheircapsandcheering.

Thishotelisbytheseaside.

Allthehotelarestartledatthealarm.

Thisclassisasmallone.

Ourclassarequarrellingamongthemselves.

Theoldcouple(orpair)ishappy.

Theyoungcouple(orpair)arequarrellingwitheachother.

但：Thistwin(oneofthetwins)isliketheother.

Thesetwinsarelikeeachother.

Thelitterofpupswasbornyesterday.(动物的集体)

Thelitterofpupswereplayingwitheachother.

Everyherdofelephantsinthisareaseemstobehappyandfree.

Theflockofbirdswereflyingabout.

机关、团体、地方，例如BankofJapan，LabourParty，HongKongSportClub，MinistryofFinance，thepress，thecity，thevillage，theneighbourhood等既可作单数也可作复数。在美国英语中，单数的集体名词通常看作单数。在英国英语中，人或动物的单数集体名词却既可看作单数，也可看作复数，但无生命东西的集合体的单数名词，如cluster(ofgrapes)，collec-tion(ofbooks)，bunch(ofkeys)，pair(ofshoes，scissors，glasses)只看作是单数。

有些集体名词通常作复数看待，但相应表示其成员的词，却可有单数形式：

Thenobilityhavebecomepoor.

Thisnoblemanhasbecomepoor.

Thepeasantry(ortenantry，yeomanry)wereunderfed.

Thepeasant(ortenant)wasunderfed.

Thegentryarerich.

Thisgentlemanisrich.

Thepolicearewell-trained.

Thatpolicemaniswell-trained.

Mankindaredestroyingtheirowncivilization.

Manisdestroyinghisowncivilization.

Humanityisdestroyingitsowncivilization.

Thehumanbeingsaredestroyingtheirowncivilization.

Thelaityarenotabletounderstandthisterm.

Alaymanisnotabletounderstandthisterm.

Theclergyareopposedtoit.

Aclergywmanisamongus.

Thecavalryhavefoughtbravely.

Thiscavalrymanhasdonesomethinggreat.

Theinfantryweredefeated.

Everyinfantrymanwashealthyandstrong.

Themilitiaaretodefendtheirtown.

Nomilitiamanknowsabouttheinfiltrationoftheenemy.

Theyoutharethefutureofanation.

Ayouthiswaitingatthebusstopforhisgirlfriend.

TheBritish(orEnglish，Irish，Scotch，Spanish，Dutch，French)are....

ABriton(orEnglishman，Irishman，Scotsman，Spaniard，Dutchman，Frenchman)is....

有些集体名词，形式上是单数，前面却可以加数词，后面跟复数动词：

Ahundredclergyaremeeting.

Twentypolice(=Twentypolicemen)arecoming.

Twentythousandinfantryaresettingout.

Manygentryareopposedtothemeasure.

Thosefolk(s)(orpeople)arehard-headed.

Hissixteenoffspringareallworkingwithhim.

AllhiskindredarelivinginLondon.

Threemillionpopulationofthiscityarewell-fed.

Fourthousandcattlearetobeexported.

有些名词经常有-s或-es词尾，它们都跟复数动词：

Theeavesarepretty.

Richesarenotalwaysdependable.

Theoddsareagainstus.(比较：Whatistheodds?----口语体)

Thanksareexpressed.

Clothesare(Clothingis)notmuchneededhere.

Thesegoodsaretobedelivered.

另一些这类名词是：archives，assets，belongings，earnings，grounds，rapids，nuptials，oats，premises，procceeds，quarters，remains，savings，scales，woods，winnings

有些疾病的名称带有-s词尾，但都作单数看待：

Themeasles(ormumps，rickets，smallpox，shingles)isadiseaseverycommoninthisvillage.

有些名词通常带-s或-es词尾，它们后面既可跟单数动词，也可跟复数动词：

抽象名词：

Everymeans(=method)hasbeenused.Allmeans(=methods)havebeenused.

Analms(orMuchalms)wasgiventothepoor.

Thesealmsweregiventothepoor.

Great(orMuch，Little)painshave(orhas)beentaken.

Thetidingsis(orare)bad.(比较：Thenewsis--不能用are--bad.)

Hiswagesare3000dollarsamonth.Thewagesofsinisdeath(oldusage).Alivingwageisreceivedonlybyafewwork-ers.

Anamendsisnecessary.Theseamendsaresatisfactory.

Thisspeciesisrare.Thesespeciesarevaluable.

Aseriesofbattleswas(orwere)beingfought.

Manyseriesofbattleshavebeenfought.

地方名称：

TheheadquartersofthetradeisinLondon.TheheadquartersofthesevarioustradesareinLondon.

Abarracksisstandingonthehill.Somebarracksarethelargestinthiscountry.

A(general)storesislocatedatthecorner.Severalnew(gen-eral)storesarebeingsetup.

Aglass-worksisbeingbuilt.Thesetwoglass-worksarethebestinthisarea.

Agolf-links(=golf-course)isintheeasternpartofthecity.

Somegolf-linksareveryfarfromhere.

Acrossroadsisusuallydangerous，butsomecrossroadsaresafe.

Agallowsisbeingsetup.Somegallowsareleftidle.

Ashambleshasreplacedtheprosperouscity.Manyshamblespresentthemselvestooureyes.

KensingtonGardensisaniceplace.Therearenotmanybotanicalgardensinthiscountry.

Alodgingsiseasytofind.Manylodgingsareforrent.

“Isthereapublicbathshere?”“Therearemanypublicbaths.”

Akennelsiswheredogsarebred.Somekennelssellpreciousdogs.

Hiswhereaboutsis(orare)unknown.

物件名称：

Thebellows(orscissors，pincers，tongs，forceps，shoes，pants，shorts，glasses，etc.)arelyinginthecorners.

Apairofbellows(orscissors，pincers，tongs，etc.)islyingidle.

有些动物的名字并不带-s或-es词尾，但可以用作复数或单数名词：

Salmon(orTrout)(作为食品)isdelicious.

Thesesalmon(ortrout)arecaughtinthatriver.

Fish(作为食品)istheironlyfood.Threefishesarevisibleinthewater.Alotoffisharecaught.

Poultry(作为食品)isdelicious.Thepoultry(作为活的动物)aredrinkingwater.

Thesheepis(orare)sleeping.

Adeerisplaying.Somedeerarerunning.

有些名词似乎不可数，却可有单复两种形式，有不同意义：

Hiscareerhasreacheditsclimax.Theircareershavebeensuc-cessful.(一个人有一番事业。许多人有许多番事业。)

Hisbeardisimpressive.Theirbeardsarelong.

Themaneofthishorseisthin.Themanesofthosehorsesarethick.

Hisoffspringishealthy.Theiroffspringsareallsoldiers.

Thepopulationofthiscityisthin.Thepopulationsofthesetwocitiesaresimilar.

ThelanguageoftheU.S.A.isEnglish.ThelanguagesofBritainandtheU.S.A.arealmostthesame.

ThealphabetofEnglishistwenty-sixletters.

ThealphabetsofEnglishandFrencharealittledifferentfromeachother.

有些学科的名称，虽以-s结尾，却都作单数看待：

Mathematicsisanimportantsubjectinschoo1.

Economicsisastudyofproductionandconsumption.

Dramaticsishissubject.Andaccoustics，too.

如果一个学科名称用来表示某些实际事务，则可作为复数：

Mymathematicsarepoor.

Theeconomicsofthiscountryarestable.

Suchpoliticsarefoolish.Suchtacticsareridiculous.

Gymnasticsarepopulartoday.

Theethicsofsomepoliticiansaredoubtful.

Statisticsonthissubjectareincorrect.

某些以-s结尾的游戏或球类名称作为单数看待：

Billiards(orBowls，Dominos，Draughts)ismyfavouritegame.

但：Cardsarenotinterestingtome.

以-ese结尾的国民名称可作为单、复两种形式：

ThatJapanese(orChinese，Portuguese，Vietnamese)ismyfriends.

ThoseJapanese(orChinese，Portuguese，Vietnamese)aremyfriends.

有些外来术语，有特别的单数及复数形式：

Thisaxis(ormedium，radius，larva，analysis，criterion，Phenomenon，oasis，libretto，soprano)is...(单数形式)

Thoseaxes(ormedia，radii，larvae，analyses，criteria，phenomena，oases，libretti，soprani)are...(复数形式)

Thedatais(orare)...

由一个形容词加the来代表一类人时，都作为复数：

Thehonest(=Thehonestpeople)arealwaystrustworthy.

Thepooraretoberelieved.

Theblindareunfortunate.

Thestrong，therich，thewickedarerespectedasthewise.

Theoppressedaretoriseoneday.

有个别这类形容词代表单个的人，后面要跟单