一．就近原则
1. 由并列结构或连词（either…or， neither…nor，not…but， not only…but also， or等）连接的并列主语，谓语动词与较近的那个名词或代词保持一致。
Neither his parents nor Tom_____(be) at home.
2. 在倒装句和there be句型中，谓语动词与后面的第一个主语保持一致。
There _____(be) a book and some pens on the desk.
There ______(come) the bus.
3. 在定语从句中，关系代词作主语，其谓语动词应与它所指代的先行词保持一致。
I know the man who_____(be) talking to my father.
4. 在强调句中，连接代词又在句中作主语，这时它应与被强调的主语保持一致。
It is Mary’s brother who_____(be) injured in the car accident yesterday.
二．意义一致原则
1. 当主语与谓语动词之间插入along with，with，as well as，together with， besides，except， but， including等短语时 ，谓语动词与第一个主语保持一致。
I along with my sister_____(be) going to Shanghai next month.
2. 由“what”引导的名词性从句作主语时，谓语动词通常用单数形式。
What I want to say _____(be) just “ Take care!”.
3. “…+ (of) +名词”作主语时，若“of”后的名词为单数（不可数名词），则谓语动词用单数，如果名词为复数，则谓语动词用复数。
Most of the water here ______(be) clean.
80% cotton ______have) been sent to America.80%
Half of the apples ______(be) red.
6. 词组“a number of”作主语时，谓语动词应用复数；“the number of”作主语时，谓语动词用单数。
A number of ancient buildings _____ (be) destroyed in the war.
The number of the visitors _____ (have) decreased this year.
7. 英语的集体名词（family, public, group, team, class等词），指代“整体”时为单数；指代“其中的各成员”则为复数。
My family ____(be) very poor when I was a little girl
My family ______(be) all looking forward for your coming.
三．整体原则
1. 从句、不定式、动名词等作主语时谓语动词用单数。
When to leave _____(be) not been decided.
Watching TV too much _____(be) bad for your eyes.
注：如果主语是两个(或两个以上)的名词性从句，谓语动词常用复数。
What he said and what he did _____(be) always different last night .
2. 如果两个以上的名词组成一个整体概念作主语时，谓语动词须用单数。
The novelist and poet _____(be) going to Europe next year.
The novelist and the poet_____(be) going to Europe next year.
3. 表示时间、距离、金额、度量等词语作主语时，通常被视作整体，谓语动词用单数。
10 minutes is enough.
4.加减乘除等数学运算谓语动词通常用单数。
2 and 3 ______5.
5.“the +姓氏名词的复数”表示“一家人、….夫妇”，作主语时，谓语动词用复数形式。
The Blacks ______(enjoy) working in China.
四．个体原则
1. every +….and every +…..或each+…and each +…作主语时，谓语动词用单数形式。
Every man and every woman _____(be) busy at working.
2. 英语句中的each， either， neither等词，作代词充当主语，修饰名词作主语时，谓语动词用单数。
Neither of us _____(have) been abroad. Neither answer _____(be) wrong .
3. 由some, any every, no构成的复合词（somebody，nobody，everything，anything等）作主语时，谓语动词用单数。
Somebody ______(be)waiting for you at the school gate.
4. 成双成对出现的复数名词（glasses，shoes，trousers，pants，gloves等）作主语时，通常谓语动词用复数，但前面有a /the pair of；a /the suit of等词语时，则谓语动词要与量词（pair, suit, piece ）在单复数上保持一致。
A pair of scissors_______(be) useful tool for a dressmaker.
Two pieces of paper ______(be ) on the desk .
5. 以复数形式出现，却表示单数意义（maths, physics, news …）谓语用单数。
Maths_____(be) my favorite subject.
6.“the +形容词（old /young /rich /poor ）”表示“一类人”，作主语时，谓语用复数。
The young ______(like) listening to popular songs .
7.“the +姓氏的复数” 表示“某某夫妇，某某一家人”，作主语时，谓语用复数。
The Greens _______(be)having lunch now.
