Quantity的用法质疑

IsaacZ

湖北省黄冈市英山一中 马保国

主谓一致是高中英语考试的重要考点之一，其中不乏难题，尤其是带有限定词的名词短语作主语时，最难选择谓语的单复数形式。例如，“a quantity of +名词”作主语时，谓语是用单数还是用复数就让广大考生困惑不已，因为目前的教辅读物中众说纷纭，矛盾重重，让人莫衷一是，到底是用单数还是用复数呢？且看下文：

问题篇：

下述几例选自学生中很有市场的几种教辅读物，他们的结论让学生误入歧途：

1.《高中专项无敌---语法》（新疆青少年出版社---王建村）
（P74） a large quantity of 不管后面跟可数名词还是不可数名词，都要用单数动词，比较：
Large quantities of money have been sent there.
A large quantity of books has been offered to us.

2．《各个击破丛书（高中英语专项）---语法》（延边人民出版社---王建军）
（数词与主谓一致p24）
A (large) quantity of 修饰可数或不可数名词，其短语作主语时，谓语动词用单数。
例如：A large quantity of people is needed here.
(large) quantities of修饰可数或不可数名词，其短语作主语时，谓语动词用复数。
例如：Quantities of food (nuts) were on the table.

3．English Weekly
（此处缺字若干）

专家篇：

笔者遍阅专家语法，发现专家们的观点并非如此,他们认为：

1.  徐广联在《大学英语语法讲座与测试》（华东理工大学出版社）中表示，a quantity of 只能修饰不可数名词，谓语动词用单数。A quantity of 间或也可以修饰可数名词，例如，A quantity of baskets were on sale.
2.  张怀信在《英语高考活用图解辞典》（延边大学出版社）中讲到，a large/small quantity of 大量的/少量的（可以修饰可数名词或不可数名词），例如，I need a large quantity of oil (apples). quantities of 大批的，大量的，例如，Large quantities of polluted water are flowing into the sea. 该书所附〈语法祥解篇---主谓一致〉还明确指出“在以上（a lot of, lots of, plenty of, a large quantity of + 名词）的词组后面的名词是中心词，谓语动词根据后面的名词的数而定”。
3．顾南华在《中高级英语考试指南》（华中工学院出版社）中说，a quantity of, quantities of可跟可数名词与不可数名词,并举有三例：There is a large quantity of milk. Great quantities of fish are caught on the high sea. Large quantities of water are needed for cooling purposes.在452页讲到“a quantity of + 不可数名词”，谓语只用单数，“quantities of + 可数与不可数名词”，谓语要用复数。
4．章振邦在《新编英语语法》（上海译文出版社）212页中讲到，a quantity of既可用于复数可数名词，也可用于不可数名词。例如, A large quantity of flowers were heaped on the martyr’s tomb. A large quantity of beer was consumed. Quantities of food were on the table.
5. 刘锐诚在《学生使用英语高考必备》（中国青年出版社）中认为，a quantity of +名词[C,U][+单或复数动词]，quantities of +名词[C,U] [+复数动词]。
6. 张鑫友在《英语语法难题新探（句法篇）》（中国地质大学出版社）529页中说，在…a large quantity of…等短语后既可接复数可数名词，亦可接不可数名词。在它们分别和其后的名词构成短语作主语时，其谓语动词通常跟of后名词的具体情况而采用单数或复数形式。
  
结论篇：

1．a quantity of后既可接复数可数名词，亦可接不可数名词。在它们分别和其后的名词构成短语作主语时，其谓语动词通常看of后名词的具体情况而采用单数或复数形式。如果是接不可数名词，则谓语用单数形式，如果是接复数可数名词，则谓语通常要采用复数形式（※偶而接单数式谓语，属非规范用法，宜慎用。）
2．quantities of后既可接复数可数名词，亦可接不可数名词,后面的谓语都用复数形式。
  
例证篇：

1．On January 18, a large quantity of coloured photopaper, dried seafood, canned abalone, audio equipment and antibiotics worth HH$16million were found in four 40-foot containers, bound for… ( In brief--- China Daily, HK Edition, 20050122,  P2)
2．Besides, a large quantity of mail bags were found. (US nationals arrested for DVD piracy---China Daily, 20040731, P1)
3．An undetermined quantity of weapons and ammunition were also seized, the spokesman said. (Raid in karbala and shots fired in Baghdad---China Daily, 2003102, P1)
4． …and a small quantity of dangerous drugs were seized. (Travel scheme causes concern in HK---China Daily, 20030822, P2)A
5．A quantity of fake certificates and official stamps were also seized. (Police seize 59 in major gang smash, 20030403)
※ 6. “…and a large quantity of drugs is reading different segments of society.” Wang said. (Zzzicit drug dealers executed----China Daily, 20030627, P2)