Существительные, обладающие количественным значением

К существительным в форме единственного числа, имеющим значение единства или множественности, в зависимости от общего смысла предложения, следует также отнести существительные, обладающие количественным значением: number, majority, succession, portion, proportion, part, bulk, series , а также слова plenty, lots и heaps (последние два используются разговорном стиле речи).

Сравните: the number of (количество) единственное число - a number of (многие) множественное число.

Другие примеры:

Do sit down, there is plenty of room for all of us.

There are plenty of other places, why do you go to this one?

There was heaps of fun at the games.

There are heaps of things to be done this afternoon.

Чтение книг: “The Virginians” by Thackcray was written in 1857;

Количество чего-либо, воспринимаемое как единство: Two eggs, some bread and a cup of coffee is quite enough for breakfast.

Упражнение на употребление глагола в нужной форме (is/are, was/were, has/have)

Проставьте требуемую по смыслу глагольную форму.

1) A red and white handkerchief (is, are) lying in my drawer.

2) Sun and air (is, are) necessary for life.

3) Tender love and care (is, are) not easily forgotten.

4) Whisky and soda (is, are) a drink used in America.

5) The ebb and flow of the tide (is, are) regular.

6) A purse with 100 dollars (has, have) been lost.

7) There (was, were) a tray and some cups on the table.

8) Flax-growing and spinning (is, are) two of the oldest industries of the world.

9) Not a word of these lectures (was, were) ever missed by anybody.

10) The greater part of our mistakes (was, were) made through carelessness.

11) People (is, are) always displeased when trams are overcrowded.

12) The chorus (is, are) all here and ready to begin.

13) The chorus of this theatre (is, are) the best in the country.

14) “Gulliver’s Travels” (is, are) one of the most popular of Swift’s works.

15) The only thing I have not prepared for dinner (was, were) the potatoes.