subject verb agreement

[lhn]

She was one of the teachers who............selected.

a) was

b) were

with comment please...

[AlainK]

Merhaba,

I'd say "were" because who=teachers, which is plural.

[lhn]

Originally Posted by AlainK

Merhaba,
I'd say "were" because who=teachers, which is plural.

Alaink merhaba?
Ne hoş bir sürpriz!=What a nice surprise!
Are you Turk?
I also said ''WERE''. But, we have been discussing this question for hours. Almost % 50 of us say ''were'' while others say ''was''.

NATIVE COMMENT will be appreciated.

[kiranlegend]

I would say were here.

Please comment.

[Soup]

Ex: She was one of the teachers who was selected.

a) was
b) were

_________________
Comment

Who refers back to the noun phrase one of the teachers, the head of which is the singular noun one, which is why the verb is singular. You can test this:

Ex: One (of the teachers) was selected.

Additionally, relative pronouns (e.g., who) refer back to the closest noun. In our example, the plural noun teachers is the closest noun from a linear perspective; i.e., it's next to who, but syntax doesn't work in linear terms. The prepositional phrase of the teachers is embedded or hidden inside ([...]) the noun phrase one of the teachers,

... [one [of the teachers]] who was ...

Structurally, who is closer to the noun one ([...]) than it is to the noun teachers, and the reason the verb is singular was. The verb cannot be plural as who cannot see inside the prepositional phrase ([...]).

[albertino]

Originally Posted by lhn

She was one of the teachers who............selected.

a) was

b) were

with comment please...

With due respect, I would like to say both "was" and "were" might be correct. I suppose, it depends on whether the focus of your attention is on "one" or "the teachers". Without context, it is hard to come to an conclusion, though.
(Not a teacher)

[Soup]

Originally Posted by albertino

With due respect, I would like to say both "was" and "were" might be correct. I suppose, it depends on whether the focus of your attention is on "one" or "the teachers". Without context, it is hard to come to an conclusion, though.
(Not a teacher)

Could you provide the context ...

[Raymott]

Originally Posted by lhn

She was one of the teachers who............selected.

a) was

b) were

with comment please...

were. "Who" refers to "teachers", so you need a plural verb.
Of the teachers who were selected, she was one.

[Clark]

Ten teachers were nominated to represent our school at the meeting. But a few of them have fallen ill. She is one of those who have fallen ill.

[Soup]

Originally Posted by Clark

Ten teachers were nominated to represent our school at the meeting. But a few of them have fallen ill. She is one of those who have fallen ill.

Thank you, Clark, but my dialect just can't accept this:

Ex: She was one of the teachers who were selected.