Number

[konungursvia]

A think it's the marker the that makes the difference there. What do you think, Tdol?

I think it's the lack of plurality of the word number. "The" is also our plural article.

 

[xpert]

Subject -verb-agreement

IS

 

[Mohammadhelmi]

The number of cars is increasing fast : singular
A number of cars are increasing fast : plural
Numbers of cars are increasing fast : plural

 

[Mzungu39]

In 'the number of students' number is the headword (the main word) therefore the verb is singular. We're talking about the number (of whatever...)
'a number of students' - 'students' is the headword, we're talking about students...

I hope I've helped.

 

[ian_k]

I know, I'm a bit late to join the poll.

The answer would be IS, because the Subject is a singular noun

This is similar to the classic trick question :

He is one of the scientists who ___ at the Institution. (work/works ?)

 

[๓иąķзГ]

i chose are becous stusents is plural

 

[earm15]

Dear All,

I chose "are".

:?:
Why do others choose "is"?
Could someone explain that for me? :wink:

The advanced area here is difficult for me

Have a nice day

Hi nicolas! Well look! In this case you use is because you are referring to the number, as you can see number is singular and is a thing. I mean.

If you were saying:

"The students ______ rising" you could use are, because you are referring to the students. But the original phrase says:

"The NUMBER of students ______ rising" so you have to use is because the sentence talks about the amount of students not about the students.

Hope this helps!
Peace! :-D

 

[cloa513]

The number of cars is increasing fast : singular
A number of cars are increasing fast : plural
Numbers of cars are increasing fast : plural

I can't say the second sentenc is right at all. I don't think you can say a number of cars- it has to be the number of cars.

 

[mzsade]

Pardon me, i need to make 5 posts to be able to share links so this one's essentially about nothing, much like the Seinfeld show. :-D

 

[Atchan]

I chose "is" because the The number is singular.

Look to this similar sentence.
The playing of the computer games is interesting.

The number of students is rising. :tick:
The number of students are rising. :cross:

This is my special opinion. :-D

 

[2006]

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

:up:

 

[Teia]

Hi

The number of students is rising :
the number is the subject of the sentence and hence the verb is in the singular too.
students here is an attribute and as Xpert said is a matter of subject - verb agreement.

A number of students are rising:

A number of - attribute

students -is the subject of the sentence and, as a consequence, the verb should be in the plural too

Teia

 

[ahsansaleemmir]

'Is' is correct in the above example because when we precede number by ‘The’ it denotes a unit and is SINGULAR. When [FONT=&quot]It’s preceded by ‘a’ it means ‘several’ or ‘many’ and is ‘PLURAL’
for example:
[/FONT][FONT=&quot]A number of pupils are absent today.(not [/FONT][FONT=&quot]A number of pupils is absent today.)
[/FONT][FONT=&quot]The number of pupils is increasing.(not[/FONT] The number of pupils are increasing.)

 

[BookAddict]

It is ONE ENTITY of things, people. IS is logical like in other languages.

People tend to apply the LAW OF PROXIMITY, the closest noun in plural, verb in plural

 

[blackdie]

the number = singular
a number = plural

Only when I saw your explanation did I notice the difference.

 

[Chico3576]

;-)

The correct answer is "is" because the subject of the sentence is a singular subject and since it is directly related to the verb, the verb must be in its singular form as well.