By Numbers, Singular verbs

A number of + plural noun + plural verb form The number of + plural noun + singular verb form

After "a number of..." we normally use a plural verb, e.g. - "A number of questions were asked." (Unit 79 'Oxford Practice Grammar') - "A number of us are worried about it." (Page 61 Swan's 'How English Works') That site(*) you mentioned, Inchoateknowledge, in another posting gives an example...

range is the subject. The form X of Ys as a subject, where X is a singular that groups together the plural Ys, sometimes takes the singular verb to match the true subject and sometimes takes the plural verb to match the Y term. Where X = a lot (as in a lot of them), only the plural verb...

New2grammar wrote: Grammar Geek, why does "the number of students" use a singular verb? Shouldn't the verb be plural just like the verb for "a wide range"? For example, The number of students enrolled at ETH Zurich has risen to 12'705 In this, you are actually referring to WHAT NUMBER....

Grammar Geek, why does "the number of students" use a singular verb? Shouldn't the verb be plural just like the verb for "a wide range"? For example, The number of students enrolled at ETH Zurich has risen to 12'705

"The number" and "a number" take singular verbs when used alone. Example: "The number is seven." When used to modify other nouns, "a number" is (always?) plural. Example: "A number of people are waiting." But "the number" used to modify other nouns is usually (or always?) singular. Example:...

Anonymous wrote: Can you explain the grammar rules for subject verb agreement with the following: The poor A number of books The number of books Anonymous wrote: Can you explain the grammar rules for subject verb agreement with the following: The poor A number of books The...

I have often tried to explain that English has two numbers: singular and non-singular. Only "one" is singular. If you have none (or two, or three, ...), you don't have one; therefore none is non-singular and must take a non-singular verb. Many references on the subject gladly accept...

Hello KhoffI take it the first question you raised is related to the issue of subject-verb concord (or agreement). The subject-verb concord in English is really tough to acquire for me, a Japanese, whose mother tongue has no distinction in verbal forms for singular and plural subjects. My grammar...

Ruslana wrote: Goodman wrote:Neither the letters nor the memo (was) on your desk. Neither/ either/ any/ someone etc.....always takes on the singular verb formNeither is paired with nor as either is with or, and in those uses as conjunctions they pose usage...