句子的各個成分之間保持在人稱、性、數(shù)等方面的一致，這種關(guān)系稱為一致關(guān)系。英語中的一致表現(xiàn)為語法一致、意義一致和毗鄰一致三方面。
絕大多數(shù)謂語動詞在人稱和單復(fù)數(shù)上取決于主語的人稱和單復(fù)數(shù)。如：
The burnt child fears the fire.
Things are invented when the need is great enough.
有時(shí)謂語動詞的單復(fù)數(shù)取決于主語的單復(fù)數(shù)意義，而不是簡單地取決于主語的單復(fù)數(shù)形式，這在集合名詞作主語時(shí)尤其如此：當(dāng)主語強(qiáng)調(diào)整體時(shí)，謂語動詞用單數(shù)；當(dāng)主語強(qiáng)調(diào)構(gòu)成集合的各個成員時(shí)，謂語動詞用復(fù)數(shù)。如：
The basketball team consists of 20 players.（指整個球隊(duì)）
The basketball team are having a bath now.（指籃球隊(duì)的隊(duì)員）
當(dāng)主語是由連詞等連接的一個短語時(shí)，往往采取就近原則，即謂語動詞的單復(fù)數(shù)形式取決于最靠近它的名詞或代詞的單復(fù)數(shù)形式和意義。如：
Either the sweater or the shirts were a good buy.
Either the shirts or the sweater was a good buy.
1.謂語動詞根據(jù)主語意義及就近原則而定的情形：來源：www.examda.com
⑴單復(fù)數(shù)形式相同的名詞用作主語時(shí)，要根據(jù)它們所含的數(shù)量概念來決定謂語動詞的單復(fù)數(shù)形式。如：
A sheep is running along the river.
Some sheep are running along the river.
常見的這些名詞有：aircraft， fish， means， sheep， species， works， Chinese， Japanese， swine等。
⑵可數(shù)的集體名詞，如果作為一個集合概念來看，它表示單數(shù)意義，就應(yīng)該遵循語法一致的原則，動詞用單數(shù)形式；如果強(qiáng)調(diào)的是個體，它表示的就是復(fù)數(shù)意義，動詞用復(fù)數(shù)形式。如：
The audience was enormous.
The audience were greatly moved at the word.
常見的這些名詞有：army，audience，class，club，jury，public，school，staff，government，team等。
⑶當(dāng)數(shù)學(xué)運(yùn)算中的數(shù)詞作主語時(shí)，謂語動詞用單復(fù)數(shù)均可，但若用了plus， minus， multiplied或divide時(shí)，謂語動詞多用equals.
Two fours are eight.
6 multiplied by 3 equals 18.
Four from five leaves one.
⑷在強(qiáng)調(diào)句型“It is/was…that/who…”中，強(qiáng)調(diào)主語時(shí)，that/who引導(dǎo)的從句的謂語動詞的形式取決于被強(qiáng)調(diào)詞的單復(fù)數(shù)形式或其意義。
It is precisely the people who create history.
⑸“the minority/majority of 名詞”短語作主語時(shí)，謂語動詞的單復(fù)數(shù)形式取決于名詞的單復(fù)數(shù)形式。如：
The majority of students were on Ben‘s side.
⑹“all （any， some， a lot， lots， the rest， none， loads， the reminder和分?jǐn)?shù)名詞短語）of 名詞“作主語時(shí)，若名詞為復(fù)數(shù)意義，謂語動詞用復(fù)數(shù)形式；否則用單數(shù)形式。
Half of them are here.
All the land is cultivated.
Tree fourths of the surface of the earth is sea.
⑺“…form（s） / kind（s） / type（s） of 名詞”作主語時(shí)，謂語動詞的單復(fù)數(shù)與form（s）等的單復(fù)數(shù)一致，此時(shí)，若名詞是不可數(shù)名詞，謂語動詞也要用復(fù)數(shù)形式。如：
This kind of book sells well.
Two kinds of salt have been proved to be harmful to human body.
⑻“plenty （part， half， rest等） 名詞”作主語時(shí)，謂語動詞與of后面的名詞的單復(fù)數(shù)形式一致。如：
Half of the guests were here.
⑼由并列連詞（or， either…or， neither…nor， not only…but （also）等）連接的并列成份作主語時(shí)，謂語動詞按就近原則與其保持一致。如：
Neither you nor I am right.
Either Jack or his sisters are going to the cinema.
⑽在“here， there”引導(dǎo)的結(jié)構(gòu)中，如果有多于一個的主語，謂語動詞與鄰近的主語取得一致。如：
There are two books， a rule and a pen on the desk.
Here is a table， some chairs， and a few desks in the room.
⑾“the 形容詞或分詞”作主語時(shí)，若指一個人或抽象概念，謂語動詞用單數(shù)形式；若指一類人，謂語動詞用復(fù)數(shù)形式。如：
The deceased was his mother.
The good are demanding their ringhts.
⑿由as well as， as much as， no less than， rather than等連接的并列主語，在意義上更強(qiáng)調(diào)第一主語。根據(jù)語法一致的原則，動詞形式通常取決于第一主語的數(shù)和人稱。如：
I， as well as him， am ready for outing.
He as much as us is responsible for it.
絕大多數(shù)謂語動詞在人稱和單復(fù)數(shù)上取決于主語的人稱和單復(fù)數(shù)。如：
The burnt child fears the fire.
Things are invented when the need is great enough.
有時(shí)謂語動詞的單復(fù)數(shù)取決于主語的單復(fù)數(shù)意義，而不是簡單地取決于主語的單復(fù)數(shù)形式，這在集合名詞作主語時(shí)尤其如此：當(dāng)主語強(qiáng)調(diào)整體時(shí)，謂語動詞用單數(shù)；當(dāng)主語強(qiáng)調(diào)構(gòu)成集合的各個成員時(shí)，謂語動詞用復(fù)數(shù)。如：
The basketball team consists of 20 players.（指整個球隊(duì)）
The basketball team are having a bath now.（指籃球隊(duì)的隊(duì)員）
當(dāng)主語是由連詞等連接的一個短語時(shí)，往往采取就近原則，即謂語動詞的單復(fù)數(shù)形式取決于最靠近它的名詞或代詞的單復(fù)數(shù)形式和意義。如：
Either the sweater or the shirts were a good buy.
Either the shirts or the sweater was a good buy.
1.謂語動詞根據(jù)主語意義及就近原則而定的情形：來源：www.examda.com
⑴單復(fù)數(shù)形式相同的名詞用作主語時(shí)，要根據(jù)它們所含的數(shù)量概念來決定謂語動詞的單復(fù)數(shù)形式。如：
A sheep is running along the river.
Some sheep are running along the river.
常見的這些名詞有：aircraft， fish， means， sheep， species， works， Chinese， Japanese， swine等。
⑵可數(shù)的集體名詞，如果作為一個集合概念來看，它表示單數(shù)意義，就應(yīng)該遵循語法一致的原則，動詞用單數(shù)形式；如果強(qiáng)調(diào)的是個體，它表示的就是復(fù)數(shù)意義，動詞用復(fù)數(shù)形式。如：
The audience was enormous.
The audience were greatly moved at the word.
常見的這些名詞有：army，audience，class，club，jury，public，school，staff，government，team等。
⑶當(dāng)數(shù)學(xué)運(yùn)算中的數(shù)詞作主語時(shí)，謂語動詞用單復(fù)數(shù)均可，但若用了plus， minus， multiplied或divide時(shí)，謂語動詞多用equals.
Two fours are eight.
6 multiplied by 3 equals 18.
Four from five leaves one.
⑷在強(qiáng)調(diào)句型“It is/was…that/who…”中，強(qiáng)調(diào)主語時(shí)，that/who引導(dǎo)的從句的謂語動詞的形式取決于被強(qiáng)調(diào)詞的單復(fù)數(shù)形式或其意義。
It is precisely the people who create history.
⑸“the minority/majority of 名詞”短語作主語時(shí)，謂語動詞的單復(fù)數(shù)形式取決于名詞的單復(fù)數(shù)形式。如：
The majority of students were on Ben‘s side.
⑹“all （any， some， a lot， lots， the rest， none， loads， the reminder和分?jǐn)?shù)名詞短語）of 名詞“作主語時(shí)，若名詞為復(fù)數(shù)意義，謂語動詞用復(fù)數(shù)形式；否則用單數(shù)形式。
Half of them are here.
All the land is cultivated.
Tree fourths of the surface of the earth is sea.
⑺“…form（s） / kind（s） / type（s） of 名詞”作主語時(shí)，謂語動詞的單復(fù)數(shù)與form（s）等的單復(fù)數(shù)一致，此時(shí)，若名詞是不可數(shù)名詞，謂語動詞也要用復(fù)數(shù)形式。如：
This kind of book sells well.
Two kinds of salt have been proved to be harmful to human body.
⑻“plenty （part， half， rest等） 名詞”作主語時(shí)，謂語動詞與of后面的名詞的單復(fù)數(shù)形式一致。如：
Half of the guests were here.
⑼由并列連詞（or， either…or， neither…nor， not only…but （also）等）連接的并列成份作主語時(shí)，謂語動詞按就近原則與其保持一致。如：
Neither you nor I am right.
Either Jack or his sisters are going to the cinema.
⑽在“here， there”引導(dǎo)的結(jié)構(gòu)中，如果有多于一個的主語，謂語動詞與鄰近的主語取得一致。如：
There are two books， a rule and a pen on the desk.
Here is a table， some chairs， and a few desks in the room.
⑾“the 形容詞或分詞”作主語時(shí)，若指一個人或抽象概念，謂語動詞用單數(shù)形式；若指一類人，謂語動詞用復(fù)數(shù)形式。如：
The deceased was his mother.
The good are demanding their ringhts.
⑿由as well as， as much as， no less than， rather than等連接的并列主語，在意義上更強(qiáng)調(diào)第一主語。根據(jù)語法一致的原則，動詞形式通常取決于第一主語的數(shù)和人稱。如：
I， as well as him， am ready for outing.
He as much as us is responsible for it.