the former作主语时谓语动词用单数还是复数

the former用作主语时，谓语动词的数须根据句意来确定——指代单数名词，谓语动词用单数；指代复数名词，谓语动词用复数。比较：

Of the two suggestions, the former is better. 两个建议中，前者好一些。

Of puppies and kittens, the former are harder to train than the latter. 小狗与小猫相比，前者比后者较难训练。

类似地，the latter 作主语时的用法也是一样。如：

Of these two men the former is dead, but the latter is still alive. 这两人中前者已死，但后者仍活着。

There are plastic and wooden garden chairs but the latter are more expensive. 花园椅有塑料的和木制的，但后者贵些。

蒋学文 - 英语教师

擅长：英语 | 采纳率 89% | 回答于 1秒前

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曾克辉 1秒前

擅长：英语考试

这个要依具体情况而定。有些表示前后照应的形容词（如above, below, aforesaid (上述的), following, former, latter…）与定冠词连用且作句子的主语时，要据其代表的名词的数来确定其谓语的单复数形式。请比较以下两组句子：

The following is a way of solving the maths problem. 下面是解答这道数学题的一种方法。

The following are ways of solving the maths problem. 下面是解答这道数学题的几种方法。

As for a cellphone and a computer, the latter is more practical. 至于手机和电脑，后者更实用。

As for cellphones and computers, the latter are more practical. 至于手机和电脑，后者更实用。

黎反修 - 英语翻译（已退休） 1秒前

擅长：数词用法,存在句,英语考试

Joan and Jane are sisters. The former is a pianist; the latter is a singer . 琼和简是姐妹，前者是钢琴家，后者是歌手。（摘自外研社、建宏《英汉多功能词典》）