Determine the correct verb form (is/are) when using the phrase 'a growing number of' in a sentence | Step-by-Step Solution
Problem
There is/are a growing number of students... Grammar problem exploring subject-verb agreement with the phrase 'a growing number of'
🎯 What You'll Learn
- Identify correct verb usage with collective nouns
- Understand nuanced grammar rules
- Recognize how modifiers affect grammatical construction
Prerequisites: Basic English grammar, Understanding of subject-verb agreement
💡 Quick Summary
Hi there! This is a fantastic grammar question about subject-verb agreement, which can be really tricky when dealing with collective phrases like "a growing number of." Here's what I'd like you to think about: when you have the phrase "a growing number of students," what do you think is the true grammatical subject - is it the word "number" or is it "students"? Also, consider this - even if the grammatical subject might technically be one thing, what is the sentence really emphasizing or focusing on in terms of meaning? I'd encourage you to think about similar phrases you might use naturally, like "a lot of students" or "many students" - what verb would you instinctively choose with those? The key concept here is understanding that sometimes in English, meaning can override strict grammatical rules, especially with certain collective expressions. Give it a try by thinking about what the phrase is really trying to communicate!
Step-by-Step Explanation
TinyProf's Grammar Guide 📚
1. What We're Solving:
We need to figure out whether to use "is" or "are" with the phrase "a growing number of students" - this is a tricky subject-verb agreement question that confuses many people!2. The Approach:
The key is identifying the TRUE subject of the sentence. Sometimes what looks like the subject isn't actually what the verb needs to agree with. We'll need to break down the phrase and understand which part controls the verb choice.3. Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Break down the phrase "A growing number of students" has two potential subjects:
- "number" (singular)
- "students" (plural)
Step 3: Apply the rule Even though "students" is plural and might sound more natural with "are," the verb must agree with the grammatical subject "number," which is singular.
Step 4: Consider the meaning While grammatically "number" is singular, when we say "a number of," we're really thinking about the multiple items (students). This creates a special case in English.
Step 5: Choose based on accepted usage In modern English, "a number of" is treated as plural because the meaning focuses on the multiple items, not the word "number" itself.
4. The Answer:
"There ARE a growing number of students..." is correct.The phrase "a growing number of" (like "a number of") takes a plural verb because the emphasis is on the multiple students, not on the singular word "number."
5. Memory Tip:
Think of it this way: "A number of" = "Several" or "Many"- You wouldn't say "Several students IS coming" ❌
- You'd say "Several students ARE coming" ✅
- So: "A number of students ARE coming" ✅
Keep practicing - subject-verb agreement takes time to master, but you're doing great by asking these thoughtful questions! 🌟
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Automatically using 'are' with plural-sounding phrases
- Ignoring the subtle difference between 'a number of' and 'a growing number of'
- Not considering the specific grammatical context
This explanation was generated by AI. While we work hard to be accurate, mistakes can happen! Always double-check important answers with your teacher or textbook.
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📷 Problem detected:
Solve: 2x + 5 = 13
Step 1:
Subtract 5 from both sides...
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