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Hi
What is the answer to the following question :-
A number students want to register for the camp but the number of places
________ limited.
a) is
b) are
c) has
d) have
a is correct because "the number", which is the thing that is limited, is singular.
Contrast this with different limitations for single adults, families and people with animals; now it would be "the numbers of places for these different types of visitors are limited".
It's worth adding that using the wrong number in the verb (pl rather than s) after 'number' is a very common mistake, even among native speakers. I've heard it, for example, on BBC radio. So don't be surprised if you meet it in real life.
the number of places 'is' or 'are' 
Linear Mode
