1. the majority单独作主语

the majority表示“大多数”时，为集合名词；单独用作主语时，如果强调整体，谓语动词用单数形式；如果强调个体，谓语动词用复数形式。如：

The majority agree [agrees] with me. 大多数人同意我的意见。

The majority was [were] in favour of the proposal. 多数人赞成这个建议。

但是若单独用的 the majority后跟有复数表语，则谓语通常要用复数。如：

The majority are young people. 大多数是年轻人。

2.“the majority of+复数名词”作主语

当“the majority of+复数名词”用作主语时，谓语动词通常用复数，偶尔也可以用单数。如：

The majority of his books are kept upstairs. 他的大部分书都藏在楼上。

The majority of people realize the importance of limiting population growth. 大多数人意识到了限制人口的重要性。

The majority of students were [was] indifferent to the political meeting. 大多数学生对政治集会漠不关心。

3．“the majority of+集合名词”作主语

当“the majority of+集合名词”用作主语时，谓语动词可用单数（视为整体）或复数（考虑其个体）。如：

The vast majority of the population lives [live] in utter misery. 这里的绝大多数人生活在极度贫困之中。

4．“the majority of+不可数名词”作主语

当“the majority of+不可数名词”用作主语时，谓语动词总是用单数。如：

The majority of the work has been finished. 大部分工作已完成。

The majority of the damage is easy to repair. 这次的损害大部分容易补救。

注：按传统语法，the majority of只用于修饰可数名词复数或具有复数意义的集合名词，但在现代英语中它也可用于修饰不可数名词。

5.“a majority of+复数名词”作主语

当“a majority of+复数名词”用作主语时，谓语动词通常用复数。如：

A majority of visitors have arrived. 大多数参观者已经到了。

A clear majority of voters were in favour of the motion. 绝大多数选民赞成这一动议。

A majority of people seem to prefer TV to radio. 比起听收音机来，大部分人似乎更喜欢看电视。