Question

a large quantity of!

后面的谓语到底用单数还是复数啊`?>!!!
有些说看of后面的名词
有些又说根据quantity决定(因为quantity是单数,所以谓语单词一律用单数,不论可数不可数)
问了两个老师,两个老师的答案都不一样?!!!
who can help me?

Answer 1

根据quantity决定(因为quantity是单数,所以谓语单词一律用单数,不论可数不可数)，因为这个时候的主语是 quantity。

Answer 2

quantity是指可以数或者可以测量的一定数量的东西，可以用 large 或者 small 修饰 quantities of something.通常用作修饰没有生命的物体。修饰可数名词，There were very small quantities of peppers on sale in the market. 修饰不可数名词，There are very large quantities of gas beneath the North Sea.

Answer 3

楼主请仔细阅读我找到的资料。我引用了众多专家的观点，最终结论在中间，最后还有资料上的例句

专家观点：
1. 徐广联在《大学英语语法讲座与测试》（华东理工大学出版社）中表示， a quantity of 只能修饰不可数名词，谓语动词用单数。 A quantity of 间或也可以修饰可数名词，例如， A quantity of baskets were on sale.

2. 张怀信在《英语高考活用图解辞典》（延边大学出版社）中讲到， a large/small quantity of 大量的 / 少量的（可以修饰可数名词或不可数名词），例如， I need a large quantity of oil (apples). quantities of 大批的，大量的，例如， Large quantities of polluted water are flowing into the sea. 该书所附〈语法祥解篇 --- 主谓一致〉还明确指出“在以上（ a lot of, lots of, plenty of, a large quantity of + 名词）的词组后面的名词是中心词，谓语动词根据后面的名词的数而定”。

3 ．顾南华在《中高级英语考试指南》（华中工学院出版社）中说， a quantity of, quantities of 可跟可数名词与不可数名词 , 并举有三例： There is a large quantity of milk. Great quantities of fish are caught on the high sea. Large quantities of water are needed for cooling purposes. 在 452 页讲到“ a quantity of + 不可数名词”，谓语只用单数，“ quantities of + 可数与不可数名词”，谓语要用复数。

4 ．章振邦在《新编英语语法》（上海译文出版社） 212 页中讲到， a quantity of 既可用于复数可数名词，也可用于不可数名词。例如 , A large quantity of flowers were heaped on the martyr’s tomb. A large quantity of beer was consumed. Quantities of food were on the table.

5. 刘锐诚在《学生使用英语高考必备》（中国青年出版社）中认为， a quantity of + 名词 [C,U][+ 单或复数动词 ] ， quantities of + 名词 [C,U] [+ 复数动词 ] 。

6. 张鑫友在《英语语法难题新探（句法篇）》（中国地质大学出版社） 529 页中说，在 …a large quantity of… 等短语后既可接复数可数名词，亦可接不可数名词。在它们分别和其后的名词构成短语作主语时，其谓语动词通常跟 of 后名词的具体情况而采用单数或复数形式。

综上所述，结论就是：
1 ． a quantity of 后既可接复数可数名词，亦可接不可数名词。在它们分别和其后的名词构成短语作主语时，其谓语动词通常看 of 后名词的具体情况而采用单数或复数形式。如果是接不可数名词，则谓语用单数形式，如果是接复数可数名词，则谓语通常要采用复数形式（※偶而接单数式谓语，属非规范用法，宜慎用。）

2 ． quantities of 后既可接复数可数名词，亦可接不可数名词 , 后面的谓语都用复数形式。

举例证明：
1．
On January 18, a large quantity of coloured photopaper, dried seafood, canned abalone, audio equipment and antibiotics worth HH$16million were found in four 40-foot containers, bound for… ( In brief--- China Daily, HK Edition, 20050122,
P2)

2．
Besides, a large quantity of mail bags were found. ( US nationals arrested for DVD piracy---China Daily, 20040731, P1)

3．
An undetermined quantity of weapons and ammunition were also seized, the spokesman said. (Raid in karbala and shots fired in Baghdad ---China Daily, 2003102, P1)

4．
…and a small quantity of dangerous drugs were seized. (Travel scheme causes concern in HK---China Daily, 20030822, P2)A

5．
A quantity of fake certificates and official stamps were also seized. (Police seize 59 in major gang smash, 20030403) ※

6 . “ …and a large quantity of drugs is reading different segments of society.” Wang said. (Zzzicit drug dealers executed----China Daily, 20030627, P2)