Question

当“a set of +名词复数”做主语时，谓语动词是单数还是复数？ 如果用代词指代主语时，谓语动

当“a set of +名词复数”做主语时，谓语动词是单数还是复数？
如果用代词指代主语时，谓语动词用单数还是复数？

Answer 1

“a set of + 复数名词”作主语时，谓语动词该用单数还是复数。
当“a set of + 复数名词”作主语时，谓语动词用单数或复数都有可能，我们手头收录了16 个例句，下面是其中的四个例子：
(1) ...if one set of figures is sharply out of line with a trend 如果一组数据与总的趋势有很大的出入……（摘自《柯林斯高级英语学习词典》第5版）
(2) A set of guidance notes is provided to assist applicants in completing the form. 有一系列注意事项，指导申请人填写表格。（摘自《朗文当代英语词典》第4版）
(3) A set of twenty-four carved and gilded chairs appear on the inventory of the house for 1736. 这幢房子1736年的物品清单上列有一套雕花镀金椅子，共24把。（摘自《剑桥高级英语词典》第2版）
(4) An important set of ideas have been advanced by the biologist Rupert Sheldrake. 生物学家鲁珀特•谢尔德雷克已提出了一整套重要的观点。（摘自《柯林斯高级英语学习词典》第5版）

Answer 2

We think of 'set' as a single thing, even though it might be made up of several things, so we use the singular (单数).
a set of +名词复数做主语时，谓语动词是单数
ps:
'A set of' differs from 'a lot of' in that a set consists of two or more items of similar design and 'a lot of' means 'many' - plural.
a lot of: means many, 谓语动词是复数