Is singular or plural?

Hello there! As an expert in the field of linguistics, I'm here to help clarify your question regarding the singular or plural nature of the word "is." This is a fascinating topic that touches on the intricacies of English grammar and the ways in which verbs agree with their subjects.
The word "is" itself is a singular form of the verb "to be." It's used when the subject of the sentence is singular, meaning it refers to one person, place, thing, or idea. For example, in the sentence "She is at the store," "she" is a singular subject, and therefore "is" is the correct verb form to use.
On the other hand, when the subject is plural, referring to more than one person, place, thing, or idea, the verb "to be" takes on a different form. In this case, "are" is the appropriate verb. For instance, "The children are playing outside" uses "are" because "children" is a plural subject.
Your example sentence, "The list of items is/are on the desk," presents an interesting dilemma. The choice between "is" and "are" depends on whether you're considering the "list" as a single entity or the "items" as separate entities. If you view the list as a singular entity, then "is" would be the correct choice. However, if you're emphasizing the collection of items, then "are" would be more appropriate.
Let's delve a bit deeper into the rules that govern subject-verb agreement in English:

### Rule 1: Subject-Verb Agreement
The verb in a sentence must agree in number with the subject. This means that singular subjects take singular verbs, and plural subjects take plural verbs.

### Rule 2: Collective Nouns
Collective nouns, like "team" or "family," can be tricky because they refer to a group but are treated as singular when the group is acting as a unit. For example, "The team is playing well together."

### Rule 3: Compound Subjects
When you have a compound subject connected by "and," it is usually plural. For example, "Bread and butter are my favorite breakfast."

### Rule 4: Indefinite Pronouns
Indefinite pronouns like "everyone," "nobody," and "someone" are always singular, even though they may refer to more than one person.

### Rule 5: Titles and Appositives
When a title or an appositive renames the subject, the verb agrees with the subject, not the title or appositive. For example, "The president of the company is away today."

### Rule 6: Unspecified Quantities
When the quantity is unspecified or uncountable, the verb is singular. For example, "Information is power."

### Rule 7: Distances, Amounts, and Times
When the subject is a distance, an amount, or a time, it is treated as singular. For example, "Fifty miles is a long drive."

By understanding these rules, you can navigate the complexities of subject-verb agreement with more confidence. Remember, the key is to consider the subject in relation to the verb, ensuring they match in number.

Now, let's move on to the translation of the above explanation into Chinese.

A singular subject (she, Bill, car) takes a singular verb (is, goes, shines), whereas a plural subject takes a plural verb. Example: The list of items is/are on the desk. If you know that list is the subject, then you will choose is for the verb. Rule 1.