句子的各個(gè)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(yǔ)中的一致表現(xiàn)為語(yǔ)法一致、意義一致和毗鄰一致三方面。
絕大多數(shù)謂語(yǔ)動(dòng)詞在人稱和單復(fù)數(shù)上取決于主語(yǔ)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(yǔ)動(dòng)詞的單復(fù)數(shù)取決于主語(yǔ)的單復(fù)數(shù)意義，而不是簡(jiǎn)單地取決于主語(yǔ)的單復(fù)數(shù)形式，這在集合名詞作主語(yǔ)時(shí)尤其如此：當(dāng)主語(yǔ)強(qiáng)調(diào)整體時(shí)，謂語(yǔ)動(dòng)詞用單數(shù)；當(dāng)主語(yǔ)強(qiáng)調(diào)構(gòu)成集合的各個(gè)成員時(shí)，謂語(yǔ)動(dòng)詞用復(fù)數(shù)。如：
The basketball team consists of 20 players.（指整個(gè)球隊(duì)）
The basketball team are having a bath now.（指籃球隊(duì)的隊(duì)員）
當(dāng)主語(yǔ)是由連詞等連接的一個(gè)短語(yǔ)時(shí)，往往采取就近原則，即謂語(yǔ)動(dòng)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(yǔ)動(dòng)詞根據(jù)主語(yǔ)意義及就近原則而定的情形：
⑴單復(fù)數(shù)形式相同的名詞用作主語(yǔ)時(shí)，要根據(jù)它們所含的數(shù)量概念來決定謂語(yǔ)動(dòng)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(gè)集合概念來看，它表示單數(shù)意義，就應(yīng)該遵循語(yǔ)法一致的原則，動(dòng)詞用單數(shù)形式；如果強(qiáng)調(diào)的是個(gè)體，它表示的就是復(fù)數(shù)意義，動(dòng)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(yǔ)時(shí)，謂語(yǔ)動(dòng)詞用單復(fù)數(shù)均可，但若用了plus， minus，
multiplied或divide時(shí)，謂語(yǔ)動(dòng)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(yǔ)時(shí)，that/who引導(dǎo)的從句的謂語(yǔ)動(dòng)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(yǔ)作主語(yǔ)時(shí)，謂語(yǔ)動(dòng)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(yǔ)）of + 名詞“作主語(yǔ)時(shí)，若名詞為復(fù)數(shù)意義，謂語(yǔ)動(dòng)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(yǔ)時(shí)，謂語(yǔ)動(dòng)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(yǔ)動(dòng)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(yǔ)時(shí)，謂語(yǔ)動(dòng)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.
絕大多數(shù)謂語(yǔ)動(dòng)詞在人稱和單復(fù)數(shù)上取決于主語(yǔ)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(yǔ)動(dòng)詞的單復(fù)數(shù)取決于主語(yǔ)的單復(fù)數(shù)意義，而不是簡(jiǎn)單地取決于主語(yǔ)的單復(fù)數(shù)形式，這在集合名詞作主語(yǔ)時(shí)尤其如此：當(dāng)主語(yǔ)強(qiáng)調(diào)整體時(shí)，謂語(yǔ)動(dòng)詞用單數(shù)；當(dāng)主語(yǔ)強(qiáng)調(diào)構(gòu)成集合的各個(gè)成員時(shí)，謂語(yǔ)動(dòng)詞用復(fù)數(shù)。如：
The basketball team consists of 20 players.（指整個(gè)球隊(duì)）
The basketball team are having a bath now.（指籃球隊(duì)的隊(duì)員）
當(dāng)主語(yǔ)是由連詞等連接的一個(gè)短語(yǔ)時(shí)，往往采取就近原則，即謂語(yǔ)動(dòng)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(yǔ)動(dòng)詞根據(jù)主語(yǔ)意義及就近原則而定的情形：
⑴單復(fù)數(shù)形式相同的名詞用作主語(yǔ)時(shí)，要根據(jù)它們所含的數(shù)量概念來決定謂語(yǔ)動(dòng)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(gè)集合概念來看，它表示單數(shù)意義，就應(yīng)該遵循語(yǔ)法一致的原則，動(dòng)詞用單數(shù)形式；如果強(qiáng)調(diào)的是個(gè)體，它表示的就是復(fù)數(shù)意義，動(dòng)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(yǔ)時(shí)，謂語(yǔ)動(dòng)詞用單復(fù)數(shù)均可，但若用了plus， minus，
multiplied或divide時(shí)，謂語(yǔ)動(dòng)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(yǔ)時(shí)，that/who引導(dǎo)的從句的謂語(yǔ)動(dòng)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(yǔ)作主語(yǔ)時(shí)，謂語(yǔ)動(dòng)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(yǔ)）of + 名詞“作主語(yǔ)時(shí)，若名詞為復(fù)數(shù)意義，謂語(yǔ)動(dòng)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(yǔ)時(shí)，謂語(yǔ)動(dòng)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(yǔ)動(dòng)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(yǔ)時(shí)，謂語(yǔ)動(dòng)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.