这类情况较为复杂，且不总是那么具有规律性，基本可归纳如下：
（1）像kind，type，sort，class，species，breed，variety，form，brand等表示类别的名词，总的规律是：句子谓语的单复数与of前面的名词形式保持一致
例句
a. What kind of rice is served in that restaurant?
b. This kind of apple is sour.
c. The kind of apples is sour.
d. Apples of this kind are sour.
e. What kinds of rice are served in that restaurant?
（2） “a pair of + 复数名词”看作整体，作主语时谓语用单数形式
例句
a. A pair of gloves/glasses is on the table.
但是：
b. Five pairs of gloves are on sale.
（3） “the + 最高级 + of +名词复数”作主语时，谓语用单数形式
例句
The most elaborate of all bird nests is the large, doomed communal structure built by social weaverbirds.
（4） “a number of / an average of / a total of +名词复数”作主语时，谓语用复数形式，强调数量
但“the number/average/total of +名词复数”强调整体，作主语时，谓语用单数形式。
例句
a. A total of ten thousand dollars were donated last month.
b. An average of ten thousand letters a day are sent by this post office.
c. The total of dollars donated last month was 100,000 dollars.
d. The total of 10 thousand dollars donated last month was sent to the flood-stricken areas.
e. It is said that the average number of moles a person has is fourteen. Moles can appear on almost any part of the body, including the scalp.
据说，人体黑痣的平均数目在14颗左右，而且人体的任何部位都可能长痣，甚至是头皮里。
（5）“A part of +单数名词”作主语时，谓语使用单数形式；“A partof +复数名词”作主语时，谓语用复数形式
类似的词组还有：the rest/remainder of，most of，plenty of，分数+of，百分数+ of等等。它们作主语时，谓语的数依of后的名词形式而定，名词是单数形式，则谓语也为单数形式；名词若是复数形式，谓语亦为复数形式。
例句
a. A part of the apple is bad.
b. A part of the apples are bad.
c. Three-fourths of the surface of the earth is covered with water.
d. A third of his composition has been corrected.
e. A third of their compositions have been corrected.
f.Three-fourths of the people are illiterate.