a host of + 复数可数名词 + 复数动词,这是网上查到的资料。但是看到there be的例句中动词用了单数,所以单复数动词都是正确的吗?
1 There were a host of people at the party.
2 There's a whole host of reasons why he didn't get the job.
3 A host of unwelcome thoughts were pressing in on him.
a host of 意思是“许多”“一大群”,通常只连复数名词连用,与a lot of 同义,相关短语用作主语时,谓语动词通常用复数。如:
A host of show business celebrities have pledged their support. 许多演艺圈名人允诺支持。(朗文第五版)
但有时也连用单数动词,尤其是用于 a whole host of 时(即被视为侧重整体)。如下面的截图摘自《张道真高级英语词典》: