谈谈名词majority的“数”

 

1. 表示大多数(人),具有复数意义,单独用作主语,谓语可用单数(侧重整体)或复数(侧重个体)。如:

The majority agree(s) with me. 大多数人同意我的意见。

The majority were [was] against the plan. 大多数人反对这个计划。

但是,若表语是复数,则谓语通常也要用复数。如

The majority are young people. 大多数是年轻人。

2. 用于the majority of+复数名词且作主语时,其谓语动词通常用复数。如:

The majority of us lads are professional drivers. 我们这帮小伙子大多是职业司机。

有时还可将其中的定冠词改为不定冠词。如:

A [The] majority of people seem to prefer TV to radio. 大部人似乎喜欢看电视而不喜欢听收音机。

3. 按传统语法,the majority of通常与可数名词复数或具有复数意义的集合名词连用,但在现代英语中有时也可与不可数名词连用。如

The majority of the work has been finished. 大部分工作已完成。

The majority of the damage is easy to repair. 这次的损害大部分容易补救。

但这种用法比较少见,学生在应试时宜慎用。

4. 用于 in the majority, 意为占大多数。如:

Men are in the majority in their college. 在他们大学里男生占大多数。

In the general population, right-handed people are in the majority. 在一般人中,惯用右手的人占大多数。

比较:in the majority of cases 在大多数情况下。如:

In the vast majority of cases, customers get their money back. 在绝大多数情况下,顾客都获得退款。

――摘自《中学英语高频词详解词典》(金盾出版社)