Page 552 - Practical English Usage 3ed - Michael Swan, Oxford

singular and plural (5): plural expressions with singular verbs 527
2 Anumberofpeoplehave...
Many singular quantifying expressions can be used with plural nouns and pronouns; plural verbs are normally used in this case.
A number ofpeople have tried to find the treasure, but they have all failed. (More natural than A number ofpeople has tried ...)
A group ofus are going to take a boat through the French canals.
A couple o f my friends plan to open a travel agency. (NOT A oottpk fJfl7'lY
friends pldm ...)
A lot ofsocial problems are caused by unemployment. (NOT A ffit of$6eial
pl"Bbk,,'t8 is eflftSeti . . .)
The majority ofcriminals are non-violent.
Some of these people are relations and the rest are old friends. Halfofhis students don't understand a word he says. (NOT Hal{8{his
stl:tthnfS tl8eStl't ...)
For more about a lot and lots, see 333. For the rest, see 501. For (a) few, see 329.
For singular and plural nouns with fractions, see 532.9.
527 singular and plural (5):
plural expressions with singular verbs
1 amounts and quantities: that five pounds
When we talk about amounts and quantities we usually use singular determiners, verbs and pronouns, even if the noun is plural.
WhereisthatfivepoundsIlentyou?(NOT WherearethtJSejivePtJr./tt/3...?) Twenty miles is a long way to walk.
We've only got five litres of petrol left. '" That isn't enough.
2 calculations
Singular verbs are often possible after plural number subjects in spoken calculations.
Two and two is/are four.
Ten times five is fifty. (OR Ten fives are fifty.)
For more about spoken calculations, see 389.22-23.
3 more than one
More than one is generally used with a singular noun and verb. More than one person is going to have to find a new job.
4 oneof..•
Expressions beginning one ofnormally have a plural noun and a singular verb.
One ofmyfriends is getting married. (NOT One 81T'Ilyfriends are ...) For singular and plural verbs in relative clauses after one of. .. , see 529.1.
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