NewsBlues mrsbgrammar Page 35
Chapter 1 Common Grammar Mistakes
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a number/the number
Today's is an easy lesson.
Mrs. B is allowing you to coast since you've been working so hard.
"THE number" takes a singular verb.
v
THE NUMBER of unskilled workers IS small.
v
THE NUMBER of pens Ron owns IS astounding.
"A number" takes a plural verb.
v
A NUMBER of the workers ARE unskilled.
v
A NUMBER of the pens ARE pretty expensive.
Here's how Mrs. B remembers.
"A" comes in the alphabet before "the."
"Plural" comes before "singular" ("p" before "s" in the alphabet).
So "a number" gets paired with a plural verb, and "the number" with
a singular verb.
Now wasn't that short and painless?
Ah, but to Mrs. B's method there is madness:
"It is with words as with sunbeams, the more they are
condensed, the deeper they burn."
--Robert Southey (1774-1843)
