类似以上用法的还有：
a. many a+单数名词(意为：许多), 用作主语, 谓语用单数(即从形式一致考虑)
b. many+复数名词(意为：许多), 用作主语, 谓语要用复数
也就是说, 以上结构中名词的数决定其后动词的数。
很多小孩在那儿玩。
正：Many a child was playing there.
正：Many children were playing there.
8. the number of / a number of与主谓一致
The number of people invited to the party ______ fifty, but a number of them ______ absent for different reasons.
A. were, was B. was, was C. was, were D. were, were
此题应选C。注意以下两个结构：
1. “the number of+复数名词”, 指数量的总和, 若用作主语, 其谓语用单数：
The number of people present was much greaterthan we expected. 到场人数大大超出我们的意料。
The number of students is 4000. 学生人数为4000。
2. “a number of+复数名词”, 意为“许多”(= a lotof), 若用作主语, 其谓语用复数：
A number of people were absent from the meeting. 许多人开会缺席。
A number of bottles were broken. 许多瓶子都被摔破了。
类似的有：
a. the variety of+复数名词 → 用作主语, 谓语用单数
b. a variety of+复数名词 → 用作主语, 谓语用复数
The variety of his books is astonishing. 他的藏书的品种多得令人吃惊。
The variety of goods in this shop is rich. 这家商店的品种丰富。
A variety of books have been published. 已出版了各种各样的书。
9. the rest (of)等作主语, 谓语的数取决于什么
a. The rest of the boys ______ watching TV.
b. The rest of the money ______ stolen.
A. were, were B. was, were C. were, was D. was, was
此题应选 C。all, most, some, half, percent, the rest等词语后接介词of再接名词用作主语时, 若该名词为可数名词的复数形式, 则其谓语要用复数形式;若该名词为不可数名词或可数名词的单数形式, 则其谓语要用单数形式：
1. a. Most of the apples are bad. 这些苹果当中大部 分是坏的。
b. Most of the apple is bad. 这个苹果坏了一大部 分。
c. Most of the time was spent on it. 这上面花了 大部分时间。