核心问题
Sixty people means a huge party.
主语 sixty people 为复数,其谓语动词却用单数,这是怎么回事呢?
词典解答
Sixty people 从形式上看是复数,但从概念上看却是单数,因为它表达的是60个人这个数目(that number of people)。骤然看来,这似乎不大好理解,但是,如果把它与下列句子作一下对比,也就不难理解了。
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Fifteen years represents a long period of his life. (That period is...) (CGEL) 十五年表示一生之中的一个很长的时期。
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Five dollars are quite enough. (TOEFL) (应将 are 改为 is) 五美元足够了。
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One hundred miles was covered in a single night. 一夜间就走了100英里。
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Ten times five is fifty. 10 乘 5 等于 50。