在英语句子中，谓语动词的形式要受到主语的“人称”和“数”的限制和决定。也就是说，谓语动词的形式必须与主语的人称和数一致，这称为“主谓语一致”关系。
它通常依据三项原则：语法一致、意义一致、就近一致。具体有以下几种情况：1.主语为可数名词单数，谓语动词用单数。
That thing which is rare is dear.
物以稀为贵。
Time is money.
时间就是金钱。
Tomorrwo never comes.
切莫信赖明天。
2.主语为不可数名词，谓语动词用单数。
Money is not everything.
金钱不是一切。
Silence is golden.
沉默是金。
Truth speaks in a language that is simple and direct.
真理用简单明快的语言说话。
3.主语为可数名词复数，谓语动词用复数。
Opportunities do not wait.
机会不等人。
Painted pictures are silent speakers.
绘画是无声的语言。
Roses have thorns.
玫瑰多刺。
Tears and laughter are the language of the heart.
眼泪和笑声是表现内心的语言。
Walls have ears.
隔墙有耳。
Bad excuses are worse than none.
狡辩比不辩护更糟。
4.主语为不可数名词，谓语动词用复数。
Patience, time and money overcome everything.
有了耐心、时间和金钱，就没办不到的事情。
Time and tide wait for no man.
岁月不待人。
5.主语为几个可数名词单数，谓语动词用复数。
A wise man and a fool together know more than a wise man alone.
一个聪明人和一个傻子在一起，要比单独一个聪明人知道的要多。
6.涉及群体名词，就具体分析。
The best fish smell when they are three days old.
再好的鱼三天也要变臭。
7.靠近原则（there be句型中）。
There are tricks in every trade.
各行有各行的窍门。
There is a road from heart to heart.
两心之间有通道。
8.某些不定代词或人称代词，谓语动词视情况而定。
Every pleasure has a pain.
乐中有悲。
Each man has his limitation.
人人都有自己的局限性。
Everyhing has its time.
物皆有时。
All is well that ends well.
结果好，一切都好。
All are not merry that dance slightly.
跳着轻快舞步的人不一定都快乐。
Nothing is cheap if you don't want it.
不需要的东西，再便宜也贵。
9.修饰主语的短语不影响主语的单复数，谓语动词仍按主语进行判断。
The first problem for all of us, men and women, is not to learn but to unlearn.
对于我们所有的人来说，不论男人和女人，首要的问题，不是学习，而是抛弃谬误。
10.主语为从句和非谓语动词时，谓语动词用单数。
What we do willingly is easy.
愿帮就不难。
Saving is getting.
节约好比聚宝盆。