1. 若用于a great (large, small) quantity of…结构,其后主要接不可数名词,但有时也接复数名词;这类结构用作主语时,其谓语的数原则上与其中的名词的数保持一致。如:
There are a small quantity of apples in the house. 房子里有少量的苹果。
A large quantity of food was on the table. 大量的食物摆在桌上。
2. 若该结构变成(large) quantities of…这样的形式,则当它用作主语时,其谓语动词一律用复数(与其中名词的数无关)。如:
Huge quantities of oil were spilling into the sea. 大量的石油渗到海里。
Large quantities of rice have been destroyed in the flood. 大量的庄稼在洪水中被毁坏了。