集体名词 (collective noun)意义上是复数 ， 而在语法形式上是单数 。 以这类名词作主语的主谓一致问题往往在“语法一致”和 “意义一致 “ 之间选择 。
（一） 通常作复数的集体名词
栠体名词 police, people, cattle , militia, poultry (家禽） . vermin (害虫） 等通常
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集体名词 (collective noun)意义上是复数 ， 而在语法形式上是单数 。 以这类名词作主语的主谓一致问题往往在“语法一致”和 “意义一致 “ 之间选择 。
（一） 通常作复数的集体名词
栠体名词 police, people, cattle , militia, poultry (家禽） . vermin (害虫） 等通常
pan >随后的动词用复数 。
Domestic cattle provide us with milk , beef and hides. 家畜提供给我们的有牛奶、牛肉和皮革。
Such vermin as bugs and rats are hard to get rid of. 害虫，像虫子和老鼠之类，很难除掉。
（二） 通常作不可数名词的集体名词
集体名词foliage, machinery, equipment, furniture, merchandise (商品），通常随后的动词用单数。
The merchandise has arrived undamaged.
All the machinery in the factory is made in China. 所有的机器，这个工厂的，产自中国。
（三） 既可作单数也可作复数的集体名词
集体名词 audience, committee, class (班级）， c r ew (全体船员或机组人员） ，family, government, public (公众） 等既可单数也可复数
The anti-crime committee is to make its report tomorrow.
The city council is meeting to set its agenda.
如将侧重点放在组成集体的成员上，动词用复数。
That group (or platoon or squad) of soldiers is a top-notch fighting unit.
That group (or platoon or squad) of soldiers have the best ratings of individual performance.
That herd of cows and calves is the healthiest the farm has had in some time.
The herd of cows and calves are moving toward the sheds by twos and threes .
主语由 'a committee of/
A committee of five men and three women is to consider the matter.
A panel of distinguished people has been chosen to judge this competition. It is meeting tomorrow.
The board of directors
Domestic cattle provide us with milk , beef and hides. 家畜提供给我们的有牛奶、牛肉和皮革。
Such vermin as bugs and rats are hard to get rid of. 害虫，像虫子和老鼠之类，很难除掉。
（二） 通常作不可数名词的集体名词
集体名词foliage, machinery, equipment, furniture, merchandise (商品），通常随后的动词用单数。
The merchandise has arrived undamaged.
All the machinery in the factory is made in China. 所有的机器，这个工厂的，产自中国。
（三） 既可作单数也可作复数的集体名词
集体名词 audience, committee, class (班级）， c r ew (全体船员或机组人员） ，family, government, public (公众） 等既可单数也可复数
The anti-crime committee is to make its report tomorrow.
The city council is meeting to set its agenda.
如将侧重点放在组成集体的成员上，动词用复数。
That group (or platoon or squad) of soldiers is a top-notch fighting unit.
That group (or platoon or squad) of soldiers have the best ratings of individual performance.
That herd of cows and calves is the healthiest the farm has had in some time.
The herd of cows and calves are moving toward the sheds by twos and threes .
主语由 'a committee of/
A committee of five men and three women is to consider the matter.
A panel of distinguished people has been chosen to judge this competition. It is meeting tomorrow.
The board of directors