1.集体名词作主语
（1）只用复数的集体名词：police，people，cattle
The people here are really happy.这儿的人真的很快乐。
The police have only very limited powers.警察只有很有限的权利。
The cattle are grazing in the field.牛在田野里吃草。
（2）只用单数的集体名词：equipment，furniture，clothing，luggage，machinery，poetry，scenery
The equipment in our lab is perfect.我们实验室的设备完美至极。
The modern furniture is very cheap here.这儿的现代式家具非常便宜。
Her clothing was very fashionable.她身穿的衣服非常时髦。
All the luggage has been strapped up.所有行李都已捆扎好。
The machinery is driven by electricity.这机器由电驱动。
The poetry of Byron is beautiful.拜伦的诗很美。
The coastal scenery of Florida attracts many tourists.
佛罗里达的海岸风光吸引许多观光客。
（3）单复数均可的集体名词：audience，board，class，committee，company，crew，enemy，family，government，group，party，public，team等，作为整体，谓语动词用单数；作为个体成员，谓语动词用复数。
My family is living in North China.我家住在华北。（单数）
My family are taking separate vacations.我家人分别度假。（复数）
The committee consists of eleven persons.委员会由11人组成。（单数）
The committee are at dinner.委员们正在吃饭。（复数）
His audience consists mainly of young people.他的观众主要是由年轻人构成。（单数）
The audience were clapping for over ten minutes.观众们的掌声响了十多分钟。（复数）
Our class is made up of fifty students.我们班由五十个学生组成。（单数）
Our class are working very hard.我们班学习都很努力。（复数）
His team is very strong.他们队很强大。（单数）
His team are talking with the coach.他们队在跟教练谈话。（复数）
2.以s结尾的名词作主语
（1）以s结尾的学科名词作主语，谓语动词用单数。
Physics is an important subject.物理学是一门很重要的学科。
Economics is my favorite subject.经济学是我最喜欢的学科。
Politics has so far interested me.迄今为止我对政治学很感兴趣。
Statistics was his major.统计学是他的主修科。
（2）以s结尾的地理、组织名词作主语，谓语动词用单数。
The United States is a developed country.美国是一个发达国家。
The United Nations is an international organization.联合国是一个国际组织。
（3）以s结尾的群岛、山脉、海峡、瀑布等名词作主语时，谓语动词用复数。
The Himalayas are very famous in the world.喜马拉雅山脉举世闻名。
（4）以s结尾的书名，剧名、报刊、杂志名词作主语时，谓语动词用单数。
The Arabian Nights is very interesting.《一千零一夜》很有趣。
The New York Times is a famous newspaper.《纽约时报》是一家著名的报纸。
【提示】 news作主语时，谓语动词用单数。
News is travelling fast nowadays.在当今的时代，新闻传播得很快。
3.trousers，scissors，clothes，goods，glasses等作主语时，谓语动词用复数。
His clothes are good.他的衣服很好。
These scissors are very sharp.这几把剪刀很锋利。
My blue trousers have worn out.我的蓝裤子已经穿破了。
My glasses （spectacles）are new.我的眼镜是新的。
【提示】 这类名词被a pair of修饰时，谓语动词用单数。
This pair of scissors is Hangzhou made.这把剪刀是杭州制造的。
4.单复数同形的名词作主语时，要根据意义决定谓语动词的单复数形式。
An iron works has been established in that region.
在那个地区建立了一个铁工厂。（an修饰单数名词）
This new means has been adopted to solve his problem.
为解决他的问题采用了这个新方法。（this修饰单数名词）
There are various species facing the danger of extinction.
许多物种面临灭绝的危险。（various修饰单数名词）