句子的各個成分之間保持在人稱、性、數(shù)等方面的一致，這種關系稱為一致關系。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數(shù)上取決于主語的人稱和單復數(shù)。如：
The burnt child fears the fire.
Things are invented when the need is great enough.
有時謂語動詞的單復數(shù)取決于主語的單復數(shù)意義，而不是簡單地取決于主語的單復數(shù)形式，這在集合名詞作主語時尤其如此：當主語強調整體時，謂語動詞用單數(shù)；當主語強調構成集合的各個成員時，謂語動詞用復數(shù)。如：
The basketball team consists of 20 players.（指整個球隊）
The basketball team are having a bath now.（指籃球隊的隊員）
當主語是由連詞等連接的一個短語時，往往采取就近原則，即謂語動詞的單復數(shù)形式取決于最靠近它的名詞或代詞的單復數(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.
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，就應該遵循語法一致的原則，動詞用單數(shù)形式；如果強調的是個體，它表示的就是復數(shù)意義，動詞用復數(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當數(shù)學運算中的數(shù)詞作主語時，謂語動詞用單復數(shù)均可，但若用了plus， minus，
multiplied或divide時，謂語動詞多用equals.
Two fours are eight.
6 multiplied by 3 equals 18.
Four from five leaves one.
⑷在強調句型“It is/was…that/who…”中，強調主語時，that/who引導的從句的謂語動詞的形式取決于被強調詞的單復數(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，謂語動詞的單復數(shù)形式取決于名詞的單復數(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和分數(shù)名詞短語）of + 名詞“作主語時，若名詞為復數(shù)意義，謂語動詞用復數(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，謂語動詞的單復數(shù)與form（s）等的單復數(shù)一致，此時，若名詞是不可數(shù)名詞，謂語動詞也要用復數(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，謂語動詞與of后面的名詞的單復數(shù)形式一致。如：
Half of the guests were here.
絕大多數(shù)謂語動詞在人稱和單復數(shù)上取決于主語的人稱和單復數(shù)。如：
The burnt child fears the fire.
Things are invented when the need is great enough.
有時謂語動詞的單復數(shù)取決于主語的單復數(shù)意義，而不是簡單地取決于主語的單復數(shù)形式，這在集合名詞作主語時尤其如此：當主語強調整體時，謂語動詞用單數(shù)；當主語強調構成集合的各個成員時，謂語動詞用復數(shù)。如：
The basketball team consists of 20 players.（指整個球隊）
The basketball team are having a bath now.（指籃球隊的隊員）
當主語是由連詞等連接的一個短語時，往往采取就近原則，即謂語動詞的單復數(shù)形式取決于最靠近它的名詞或代詞的單復數(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.
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，就應該遵循語法一致的原則，動詞用單數(shù)形式；如果強調的是個體，它表示的就是復數(shù)意義，動詞用復數(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當數(shù)學運算中的數(shù)詞作主語時，謂語動詞用單復數(shù)均可，但若用了plus， minus，
multiplied或divide時，謂語動詞多用equals.
Two fours are eight.
6 multiplied by 3 equals 18.
Four from five leaves one.
⑷在強調句型“It is/was…that/who…”中，強調主語時，that/who引導的從句的謂語動詞的形式取決于被強調詞的單復數(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，謂語動詞的單復數(shù)形式取決于名詞的單復數(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和分數(shù)名詞短語）of + 名詞“作主語時，若名詞為復數(shù)意義，謂語動詞用復數(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，謂語動詞的單復數(shù)與form（s）等的單復數(shù)一致，此時，若名詞是不可數(shù)名詞，謂語動詞也要用復數(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，謂語動詞與of后面的名詞的單復數(shù)形式一致。如：
Half of the guests were here.