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Subject-verb agreement rules

A number vs.The number

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The expression the

numberis followed bya singular verb while

the expression a

numberis followed bya plural verb.

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1. The number of people we

need to hire is thirteen.

Examples:

2. A number of people have

written in about thissubject.

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et!s try"

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#hoose the

correct word in

each sentence.

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1. The number ofpeople lined up for

ticketswas$were

four hundred.

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1. The number ofpeople lined up for

ticketswasfour

hundred.

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2. A number ofsuggestions

was$were

made.

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2. A number ofsuggestions

weremade.

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3. Thereis$areanumber of important

announcements inthe bulletin.

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3. Thereare a

number of

importantannouncements in

the bulletin.

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4. Here is$arethe number of

milk shakes

you requested.

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4. Here is thenumber of

milk shakes

you requested.