以下兩用法均可:
一、與詞形保持一致(quantity 的單複數,決定謂語動詞的單複數):這種觀點認為,不看aquantityof 或quantitiesof 後面接單數名詞還是複數名詞,只看quantity本身。即:quantity是單數,謂語動詞就用單數;quantities是複數,謂語動詞就用複數。即遵循“語法一致”的原則。例如:
Alargequantityofwashingmachineshasbeensold.
A great quantityofmoney was spent on the project.
Largequantitiesofbooks were sent to the village schools.
Largequantitiesofsandwerewasheddownthehillbytherain.
二、還有一種比較流行的觀點,就是:a (large) quantity of或 (large) quantities of,其後均可跟不可數名詞或複數名詞。在句中作主語時,a quantity of接不可數名詞時,謂語動詞用單數形式;接可數名詞複數時,謂語動詞用複數形式。quantities of後接不可數名詞或可數名詞複數時,謂語動詞都用複數形式。
Alargequantityofwashingmachineshavebeensold.
A great quantityofmoney was spent on the project.
Largequantitiesofbooks were sent to the village schools.
Largequantitiesofsandwerewasheddownthehillbytherain.