1)通常作复数的集体名词 集体名词,如:police, people,cattle,militia,poultry等, 通常作复数,用复数动词。如: Domestic cattle provide us with milk, beef and hides. 2)通常作不可数名词的集体名词 有些集体名词,如foliage,machinery,equipment,furniture,merchandise,通常作不可数名词,随后的动词用单数。例如:All the machinery in the factory is made in China. 3)既可作单数也可作复数的集体名词 集体名词,如audience, committee, class, crew, family, public, government等,既可作单数,也可作复数用。 The city council is meeting to set its agenda. 4)a committee,etc. of 复数名词 如果主语是由“a committee of /a panel of /a board of 复数名词”构成,随后的动词通常用单数。例如: A committee of five men and three women is to consider the matter.