The first two of the five questions on the test paper were very difficult, but the rest was easy. (全国高考)
答案要求将 the rest was 改为 the rest were。但是, the rest was (is) 的用法是很常见的:
The rest of the family joins me in expressing our gratitude. (MD)
the rest作主语时，其谓语动词有时用复数，有时用单数，这里所遵循的是概念一致原则，而不是语法一致原则。也就是说，当the rest后接一个of+复数名词结构时，谓语动词用复数，当the rest后接一个of+单数名词时，谓语动词用单数。当the rest单独用作主语时，如果在概念上暗含着第一种含义，则谓语动词用复数；如果在概念上暗含着第二种含义，则谓语动词用单数。请分析下列实例：
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Some agree with Jim, but the rest of us agree with Sam. (FWF) 有些人同意吉姆的观点, 其余的人则同意萨姆的观点。
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Those are mine, Robert; the rest are yours. (Mansfield) 罗伯特,那些是我的,其余的是你的。
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The rest are to wait for us. (MD) 其余的人要等着我们。
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The rest of us were allowed to go home. (EED) 我们其余的人获准回家了。
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I have read a large part of the book; the rest is more difficult. 这本书的大部分我都读过了；其余的部分比较难。
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The rest needs no telling. 其余的就不需要说了。
由此可以看出,上面的高考英语试题应当用 the rest were。如与下列句子进行对比,就更容易理解了:
He's only got one shirt, because all the rest (of them) are being washed. (LDCE) 他只剩一件衬衫了，其余的正在洗。