英文文法的一個小盲點

Question

今在書上看到一個句子：

A line of ants was marching past and heard the Grasshopper.

螞蟻是複數，為何後面的be動詞用was而非were？

是因為前面的A line of 嗎?

那如果是a lot of 呢？ many呢...？

Answer 1

最佳解答

a line of 用單數或用複數都可以，主要是看要強調一整體 line，還是要強調後面的名詞複數。

a line of ants was marching past 是強調有一列螞蟻走過，這是一個整體。

a line of ants were marching on the kitchen counter 是強調有一列的螞蟻在廚台上爬，這是講很多螞蟻。

不過，如果動詞很明顯是在講 line，就一定要用單數，如果很明顯在講後面的複數名詞，就一定要用複數，例如：

A line of storms are forming in southern Kentucky.

一系列的風雨正在南肯德基形成。

這裡明顯講好幾個風雨正在形成，而不是很多風雨形成一條線，所以 storms 才是意思上的主詞，要用 are forming。

A line of people is forming outside your office.

一行人龍正在你的辦公室外形成。

這裡不是形成人，而是形成一列， 意思上的主詞是 line，所以要用 is forming。

a lot of 和 many 都有「許多」的意思，但 many 只能用在複數，a lot of 後面的名詞如果是可數或表示複數的集合名詞，要用複數，若不可數，就要用單數：

Many people are here.

A lot of students are here.

A lot of money was lost.

Answer 2

Both was and were are fine, depending on what you want to emphasize.

To emphasize the line (all ants line up and marching in a homogeneous way), was should be used.

To emphasize the quantity of ants and their individuality, was should be used.

2012-09-23 18:10:59 補充：

hmm, Master Lion must be my evil twin...

But to supplement her answer:

A lot of monies are here.

A lot of money is here.

are both fine too.

2012-09-23 23:47:17 補充：

Opps,

I meant:

A lot of money was lost.

A lot of monies were lost.

both are fine.

Answer 3

為何後面的be動詞用was而非were？ 是因為前面的A line of 嗎?

是的。 a line of ants 是只很多螞蟻中的〝一列〞，屬單數，故用was。

那如果是a lot of 呢？ many呢...？

a lot of 和 many 是〝很多〞的意思，所以為複數，用複數之動詞。

參考資料： 自己