集体名词作主语的主谓一致问题依不同的集体名词而定。可分为下面三种情况:第一,有些集体名词,如police,people,cattle,militia(民兵),poultry(家禽),vermin(害虫)等,通常作复数。例如:
The British police have only very limited powers.
英国警察权力范围极其有限。
Domestic cattle provide us with milk,beef and hide.
畜牛为我们提供牛奶、牛肉和皮张。
The militia were called out to guard the borderland.
召集民兵保卫边疆。
Such vermin as bugs and rats are hard to get rid of.
臭虫和老鼠那样的害虫难以灭绝。
第二,也有一些集体名词,如foliage,machinery,equipment(设备),furniture,merchandise(商品)等,作单数。例如:
The furniture in the room has been made to order.
室内的家具是定做的。
All necessary machinery has been brought to the construction site.
所有必要的机器都已运到工地。
第三类集体名词,如audience,committee,class(班级),crew(全体船员),family,government,public(公众)等,既可作单数,也可作复数。如将集体视为一个整体,动词用单数:
The football team is being reorganized.足球队正在重新组建。
The government has done its best to boost production.
政府已作最大努力来促进生产。
The audience was enormous.听者人数众多。
如将侧重点放在组成集体的成员上,动词用复数:
The team are having baths and are then coming back her