people和meat后面用單數(shù),它們都是集體名詞.
附詳細(xì)的解釋?zhuān)?br/>集體名詞表示一群人或一類(lèi)東西的集合體,如audience（聽(tīng)眾,觀眾）,committee（委員會(huì)）,family（家庭）,nation（國(guó)家）,cattle （牛,牲口）,police（警察）,foliage（葉子）,furniture（家具）,machin-ery（機(jī)器）等.集體名詞有的有復(fù)數(shù)形式并可計(jì)數(shù),如a commit-tee,two committees.但也有許多集體名詞沒(méi)有復(fù)數(shù)形式,不可以計(jì)數(shù).例如不可以說(shuō)* a furniture,* two furniture,也不可以說(shuō)* a police,* two police.如果要把police,furniture這類(lèi)的集體名詞分成個(gè)體,只能說(shuō)a policeman,two policemen,a piece of furniture,two pieces／artieles of furniture等.
集體名詞作主語(yǔ)的主謂一致問(wèn)題依不同的集體名詞而定.可分為下面三種情況：第一,有些集體名詞,如police,people,cattle,militia（民兵）,poultry（家禽）,vermin（害蟲(chóng)）等,通常作復(fù)數(shù).例如：
The British police have only very limited powers．
英國(guó)警察權(quán)力范圍極其有限.
Domestic cattle provide us with milk,beef and hide．
畜牛為我們提供牛奶、牛肉和皮張.
The militia were called out to guard the borderland．
召集民兵保衛(wèi)邊疆.
Such vermin as bugs and rats are hard to get rid of．
臭蟲(chóng)和老鼠那樣的害蟲(chóng)難以滅絕.
第二,也有一些集體名詞,如foliage,machinery,equipment（設(shè)備）,furniture,merchandise（商品）等,作單數(shù).例如：
The furniture in the room has been made to order．
室內(nèi)的家具是定做的.
All necessary machinery has been brought to the construction site．
所有必要的機(jī)器都已運(yùn)到工地.
第三類(lèi)集體名詞,如audience,committee,class（班級(jí)）,crew（全體船員）,family,government,public（公眾）等,既可作單數(shù),也可作復(fù)數(shù).如將集體視為一個(gè)整體,動(dòng)詞用單數(shù)：
The football team is being reorganized．足球隊(duì)正在重新組建.
The government has done its best to boost production．
政府已作最大努力來(lái)促進(jìn)生產(chǎn).
The audience was enormous．聽(tīng)者人數(shù)眾多.
如將側(cè)重點(diǎn)放在組成集體的成員上,動(dòng)詞用復(fù)數(shù)：
The team are having baths and are then coming back here for tea．
隊(duì)員們正在洗澡,隨后即將回到這里喝茶.
The government have asked the country to decide by a vote．
政府要求全國(guó)投票表決.
The audience are listening to a Beethoven symphony．
聽(tīng)眾們正在聽(tīng)貝多芬交響曲.