核心问题
a lot of + 名词结构充当主语时, 其谓语动词用单数, 还是用复数?
词典解答
人们不把 a lot of + 名词结构中的 a lot 看作中心词，而看作是修饰语。因此，该结构的谓语动词的数决定于作为中心词的名词的数：
- There are such a lot of people who have had the same experience. (Walpole) 有这么多人有同样的经历。
- There's a lot of beer in those bottles there. (Nelson, 100C) 那边的瓶子里有许多啤酒。（参见 a lot of/lots of...is/are）