Number

[LUPITA]

I chose "is" of course because of "the number" as a singular reference, but can you explain why you can find for example these sentences:

"if anybody phones tell THEM to phone later"...

or what it worse for me

"the author describes themselves as a fool"

Both examples were taken from written English

[Isra]

I also voted is, because the number is singular..

[hounddog55]

Hello nicolas,

The number of students IS rising.

This is because "of students" is a prepositional phrase. It's a prepositional phrase because "of" is a preposition and it is followed by a noun. "Students" is the noun, and it is the object of the preposition "of." The prepositional phrase "of students" is modifying "number." Therefore it is simply a modifyer, and "number" is really the subject. And "number" is singular...

[pristtian]

A number of+ Plural noun + Plural Verb
The number of + Plural noun + Singular Verb

[beastmaster]

the number + singular verb
a number+ plural verb

[Bust3rboi]

I dont quite understand this one . >_>

[bb_girl]

I chose "is" because the number is rising, not the students :D
So it's definitely is

[c.sala@hotmail.es]

Just because here the important part of the subject is NUMBER and it is singular.
And take a look at
Translation rise in the English-Spanish Collins dictionary
for the meaning and uses of RISE

[soutter]

The number of Portuguese and Italians in Geneva IS (number is the subject because of the number) incredible.

A number of Portuguese and Italians in Geneva SPEAK (the completion of the phrase a (indefinite article) number of is the subject: Portuguese and Italians) English well.

The number of Portuguese and Italians in Geneva IS incredible.
A number of Portuguese and Italians in Geneva SPEAK English well

With the number of, number represents not only a precise figure albeit unstated it is also both the grammatical subject and the formal theme.

With a number of, number does not represent a precise figure and therefore remains deliberately vague. Its completing noun after of becomes the theme and subject.

A number of might be seen as synonymous for some and therefore will always be followed by a plural noun and the verb must be plural.

[soutter]

The number of Portuguese and Italians in Geneva IS (number is the subject because of the number) incredible.

A number of Portuguese and Italians in Geneva SPEAK (the completion of the phrase a (indefinite article) number of is the subject: Portuguese and Italians and this will always be plural because a number of is synonymous for some) English well.

The number of Portuguese and Italians in Geneva IS incredible.
A number of Portuguese and Italians in Geneva SPEAK English well

With the number of, number represents not only a precise figure albeit unstated it is also both the grammatical subject and the formal theme.

With a number of, number does not represent a precise figure and therefore remains deliberately vague. Its completing noun after of becomes the theme and subject.



A number of might be seen as synonymous for some and therefore will always be followed by a plural noun and the verb must be plural.