A large number of studies have been carried out?

[bartdebsky]

I have got a problem with this sentence: A large number of studies have/has been carried out by scientists. Which version is correct? I am thinking whether a verb should refer to "a large number" as a singual noun, or it refers to studies? Can you help me?

 

[Rover_KE]

'A large number of (=very many) studies have been carried out ...'

 

[jutfrank]

Grammatically, and strictly speaking, it should be has as the verb form should agree with a large number, (not studies) but I would say have. I wouldn't correct either way.

 

[Tdol]

We use a plural verb after a large number of.