"... a handful of people that tarnishes ..."
She further added, "As a native of Jerusalem I know and respect this society. I know it's just a handful of people that tarnishes the reputation of an entire sector. I was very offended by what he did."
More: Soldier: Haredi man spat on me and my mother - Israel News, Ynetnews
"As for Newsweek's fate, the paid-digital strategy strikes me as little more than a face-saving move. I can't believe more than a handful of people are going to sign up," Kennedy said on his blog.
More:Newsweek ends 80-year print run, goes all-digital - Israel Culture, Ynetnews
The Young Professionals Program is geared towards candidates under the age of 32 who are interested in junior positions at the UN. Only a handful of Israelis have succeeded in passing its entrances tests over the past few years.
More:Young Israelis flunk UN entrance exams - Israel Business, Ynetnews
Merriam-Webster's Learner's Dictionary
In sum, I don’t know whether a handful of takes singular or plural verb?
Re: "... a handful of people that tarnishes ..."
Re: "... a handful of people that tarnishes ..."
Quote:
Originally Posted by
SoothingDave 
It's plural to me.
Great! Should I drop s?
"I know it's just a handful of people that tarnishes the reputation of an entire sector."
Re: "... a handful of people that tarnishes ..."
I would. Some other native speaker might disagree. Collective nouns can be a matter of style or local preference.
Re: "... a handful of people that tarnishes ..."
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Odessa Dawn
In sum, I don’t know whether a handful of takes singular or plural verb?
***** NOT A TEACHER *****
I think it depends on whether we're dealing with a countable or uncountable noun. Consider the following sentence which I found in Google Books:
There is a handful of sand on the floor, and I fear someone will step in it and fall.
(The Inter-mountain Educator, Volumes 15-16)
I think that "are" would be less likely here.
However, in your sentence I would also use the plural form of the verb.
Re: "... a handful of people that tarnishes ..."
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Chicken Sandwich
***** NOT A TEACHER *****
a countable or uncountable noun.
I can add an indefinite articular an before uncountable noun, can't I? A countable or an uncountable noun, for example.
Re: "... a handful of people that tarnishes ..."
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Odessa Dawn
I can add an indefinite articular an before uncountable noun, can't I? A countable or an uncountable noun, for example.
Yes, you could, but it's not necessary.
