一般来说，不可数名词用动词单数，可数名词复数用动词复数。 There is much water in the thermos. 但当不可数名词前有表示数量的复数名词时，谓语动词用复数形式。 Ten thousand tons of coal were produced last year.
一、 并列结构作主语时谓语用复数 Reading and writing are very important. 注意： 当主语由and连结时，如果它表示一个单一的概念，即指同一人或同一物时，谓语动词用单数，and 此时连接的两个词前只有一个冠词。The iron and steel industry is very important to our life.
典型例题 The League secretary and monitor ___ asked to make a speech at the meeting. A. is B. was C. are D. were 答案B. 注： 先从时态上考虑。这是过去发生的事情应用过去时，先排除A.，C.。本题易误选D，因为The League secretary and monitor 好象是两个人，但仔细辨别， monitor 前没有the，在英语中，当一人兼数职时只在第一个职务前加定冠词。后面的职务用and 相连。这样本题主语为一个人，所以应选B。
二、主谓一致中的靠近原则 1）当there be 句型的主语是一系列事物时，谓语应与最邻近的主语保持一致。 There is a pen, a knife and several books on the desk.. There are twenty boy-students and twenty-three girl-students in the class.
2）当either… or… 与neither… nor， 连接两个主语时，谓语动词与最邻近的主语保持一致。 如果句子是由here, there引导，而主语又不止一个时，谓语通常也和最邻近的主语一致。 Either you or she is to go. Here is a pen, a few envelops and some paper for you.
三、谓语动词与前面的主语一致 当主语后面跟有with, together with, like, except, but, no less than, as well as 等词引起的短语时，谓语动词与前面的主语一致。 The teacher together with some students is visiting the factory. He as well as I wants to go boating.
四、谓语需用单数 1） 代词each和由every, some, no, any等构成的复合代词作主语，或主语中含有each, every, 谓语需用单数。 Each of us has a tape-recorder. There is something wrong with my watch.
2） 当主语是一本书或一条格言时，谓语动词常用单数。 The Arabian Night is a book known to lovers of English. <<天方夜谭>>是英语爱好者熟悉的一本好书。