There is a number of solutions to the problem of global warming that have ... ...
There is a number of solutions to the problem of global warming that have not been considered by this committee.
(A) NO CHANGE
(B) ...
(C) ...
(D) ...
(E) ...
*This question is included in
Nova Grammar II: Subject-Verb Agreement
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Posted: 12/04/2012 13:52
Something's quite wrong with this. "A number of solutions" or whatever is singular because "a number" is singular. Shouldn't (A) or (C) sound as the best answers?
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Posted: 12/04/2012 13:53
By the way, the correct answer based on the solutions is (B). I don't know why.
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Posted: 01/06/2013 17:06
number is seriously not plural
Admin
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Posted: 01/09/2013 18:26
Federico and Thomson, think of "a number of XYZs" like "a lot of ABCs". Just because it starts with "a" does not mean it's singular. "A number of solutions" are simply an enumerated list of solutions (they can be 2 5, 10, or 100 solutions), and they are certainly plural.
Another example: "A number of people say ..."; you would never write "A number of person says ..."
