（A）The majority are Moslems. (CGEL)
(B) The majority is always able to impose its will on the minority.
同是用 majority 做主语,为什么在句(A)中用 are,而在句(B)中用 is?
majority 虽然在语法上是个单数名词,但在概念上却具有复数的含义:most, almost all, many。因此通常与复数动词连用,尤其是当 majority + of + 复数名词结构作主语时:
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The majority of doctors believe smoking is harmful to health. (LDCE) 大多数医生认为吸烟有害健康。
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But the majority were on Ben's side. (Cronin) 但是大多数人支持本。
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The majority of children like sweets. 大多数孩子喜欢糖果。
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The majority of electors have already made up their minds which they are going to vote. (Wood) 大多数选民已经决定他们投票选谁。
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The majority of the plays produced were failures. (G. B. Shaw) 出版的大多数剧本都是失败的。
下面句子里的 majority 使用单数动词, 是因为 human race 是单数的缘故。
The majority of the human race is still today on the sidelines, watching and wondering. (WID) 人类的大多数今天仍然不能参与竞赛，只在场外看、惊叹而已。
majority 后面不跟 of 短语时, 其谓语动词可使用单数, 亦可使用复数, 依着眼于“整体”, 还是“个体”而定:
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The majority were/was in favour of the proposal. (ALD) 大多数人赞成这个建议。
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The Democratic majority is composed of workers and shirkers. (Crews) 民主党的大多数是由工人和逃避者所组成的。
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The majority agrees with me. (CGEL) 大多数人与我意见一致。
上面所提问的(B)句便属于这种情形。