one in five

多数人使用动词的复数,但也有人使用单数:

1. One in five were scared of other prisoners. (LGSWE) 五个人之中有一人受到其他囚犯的恐吓。

2. One in five pairs of socks sold in Britain is made in Sherwood. 在英国出售的短袜五双之中有一双是在舍伍德生产的。

one of 复数名词 $\$left\{\begin{array}{l} who \\ that \\ which \end{array}\right\}\left\{\begin{array}{l} is \\ are \end{array}\right\} ...

上面答者的解释有些片面。实际上，NCE 中的原句并不是错误的，而是很常见的。例如：Jasper White is one of those rare people who believes in ancient myths. (New Concept English, Book 2, L. 28)

让我们看看权威语言学家R.Quirk等人对这个问题的论述：

“如果在 one of + 复数名词构成的名词短语的后面跟有一个定语从句的话,则定语从句中的动词的数是应该跟 one 相一致,还是应该跟复数名词相一致,就往往存在着一个进行选择的问题:

He's one of those students who never get(s) a piece of work done on time." (CGEL) 他是那些从不按时完成作业的学生之一。

Jespersen 则指出：“使用单数的动词和代词是受到 one 的诱惑而造成的”。

选择动词的单数形式还是选择动词的复数形式,取决于我们的着眼点是事物的普遍性还是事物的特殊性。请比较:

1. Charlatanry is one of the many words in English that are of French origin. (CGEL § 10.43) Charlatanry 是众多源于法语的英语单词之一。

2. He is one of the few people in this country who have a knowledge of Japanese. 他是这个国家少数懂日语的人之一。

3. My worthy friend Sir Roger is one of those who is not only at peace within himself, but beloved and esteemed by all about him. (Spectator No. 121, 1711) 我信赖的朋友劳格先生不仅是一个内心平和的人，而且也是一个受周围人爱戴和尊重的人。

4. I am one of those people who by the general opinion of the world are counted both infamous and unhappy. (Spectator No. 203, 1711) 按照世上的一般观点，我是那种名声不好而又不幸福的人之一。

5. ... one of those film buffs who has seen everything and understood nothing (MWDEU)

……那些什么电影都看但是什么也看不懂的影迷之一

这里应当补充一点,就是我们发现大部分人还是偏向于使用复数动词的。例如,A.S.Hornby 在评论 He is one of those people who is responsible for this. 这个句子时说:很难断定正确与否……不过,为了保险起见,最好把句中的 who is 改为 who are。

我国标准化英语试题的测试专家仍主张在这种结构中使用动词的复数：

1. Every one of the boys in the class who has passed the test is to receive certificates.

2. Mr. Gilmore is one of those men who $\$frac{\text{appears}}{\text{A}} to be $\$frac{\text{friendly}}{\text{B}} , however, it is very hard to

$\$frac{deal}{C} with $\$frac{him.}{D} (全国研考试题)

但是有一点是没有分歧的,那就是当先行词为 the...one of 时,则定语从句中的谓语动词只能用单数。请看下面的试题:

John is the only one of the students in the class $\$underline{\text{that}} never $\$underline{\text{admit making}} a mistake even when A B

$\$frac{\mathrm{it}}{\mathrm{C}} is pointed out to him. (应将 admit 改为 admits)