Subject-verb agreement is essential in ensuring that your writing is clear, concise, and easy to understand. One aspect of this agreement that often causes confusion is the use of “the number” as the subject of a sentence. In this article, we’ll explore some subject-verb agreement examples that involve “the number” to help you master this concept.
Example 1: The number of students in the classroom is increasing.
In this sentence, “the number” is the subject, and “students” is the object of the preposition “of.” When the subject is “the number,” it is a singular noun, and the verb should agree with it accordingly. Therefore, the correct verb to use is “is,” as opposed to “are.”
Example 2: The number of books on the shelf are too many to count.
In this example, the same rule applies. The subject is “the number,” which is singular, and the verb should agree with it in number. Therefore, “are” should be replaced with “is” to make the sentence grammatically correct.
Example 3: A large number of people have registered for the event.
In this example, “a large number” is the subject of the sentence. Unlike the previous examples, it is not a singular noun, but rather a plural noun. Therefore, the verb “have” is the correct form to use, as it is plural, and agrees with the subject accordingly.
In conclusion, subject-verb agreement is an essential concept in writing, especially when it comes to using “the number” as the subject of a sentence. By following these simple examples, you can ensure that your writing is grammatically correct, and easy to understand. So, the next time you write a sentence with “the number” as the subject, remember to make the verb agree with it in number, and you’ll be a pro at subject-verb agreement in no time.