Radio Paradise

I believe it depends on the context how the word "number" is used. According to the Gregg Reference Manual (which is not necessarily the definitive authority): "The expression 'the number' has a singular meaning and requires a singular verb; 'a number' has a plural meaning and requires a plural verb."
"The number of stores selling eight-track tapes has dropped since 2009."
"A number of stores have stopped selling eight-track tapes since Millard Fillmore wistfully insinuated his preference for cassettes."

oldviolin

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Posted: Mar 4, 2013 - 6:11am
gypsyman wrote: Dude, that makes them tight ends. 88. John Mackey. Baltimore Colts. Greatest that ever played the position. IMO, of course...

DD gypsyman

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Posted: Mar 4, 2013 - 6:08am
oldviolin wrote: So, there are two players on opposing teams and the number(s) on their jersey(s) is 88. Dude, that makes them tight ends.

Antigone

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Posted: Mar 4, 2013 - 6:05am
gypsyman wrote: Well, mebbe my haid will stop hurting now. We be rafflin' off tickets to the degree burnings in our next big episode, so stay tuned, folks!

oldviolin

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Posted: Mar 4, 2013 - 6:03am
gypsyman wrote: Well, mebbe my haid will stop hurting now. We be rafflin' off tickets to the degree burnings in our next big episode, so stay tuned, folks! My 2/3 auto mechanic degree never went into numbers, but I have skimmed over the Old Testament...Does that get me in the degree club?

DD gypsyman

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Posted: Mar 4, 2013 - 6:03am
oldviolin wrote: So, there are two players on opposing teams and the number(s) on their jersey(s) is 88. Forgive them, Father, they know not what they do......

oldviolin

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Posted: Mar 4, 2013 - 6:01am

2cats wrote:

Look what I found:
http://www.dailywritingtips.com/is-number-singular-or-plural/
" The noun number by itself is singular: The number on his jersey is 88. The number of unemployed has risen.

However, the phrase a number of calls for a plural verb: A number of protesters were arrested. There are a significant number of sources."

So, there are two players on opposing teams and the number(s) on their jersey(s) is 88. {#Headache}

DD gypsyman

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Posted: Mar 4, 2013 - 6:00am

2cats wrote:

Look what I found:
http://www.dailywritingtips.com/is-number-singular-or-plural/
" The noun number by itself is singular: The number on his jersey is 88. The number of unemployed has risen.

However, the phrase a number of calls for a plural verb: A number of protesters were arrested. There are a significant number of sources."

Well, mebbe my haid will stop hurting now. We be rafflin' off tickets to the degree burnings in our next big episode, so stay tuned, folks! {#Angel}

oldviolin

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Posted: Mar 4, 2013 - 5:57am

2cats wrote:

Look what I found:
http://www.dailywritingtips.com/is-number-singular-or-plural/
" The noun number by itself is singular: The number on his jersey is 88. The number of unemployed has risen.

However, the phrase a number of calls for a plural verb: A number of protesters were arrested. There are a significant number of sources."

Ah. Glad that there are a number of degrees that I don't have to return...but if there is... {#Eh}

Antigone

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Posted: Mar 4, 2013 - 5:56am

2cats wrote:

Look what I found:
http://www.dailywritingtips.com/is-number-singular-or-plural/
" The noun number by itself is singular: The number on his jersey is 88. The number of unemployed has risen.

However, the phrase a number of calls for a plural verb: A number of protesters were arrested. There are a significant number of sources."

Well lookee there! Yer smart! {#High-five}

Excellent detective work.

I humbly defer.

sirdroseph

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Posted: Mar 4, 2013 - 5:55am
gypsyman wrote: So, the basic sentence would be "There is a number." ? Crap, maybe I'll just burn my English degree ..... That's what my dad said he would do with mine if I chose that major, they made me major in Business. Little did they know in today's world both are good for cage lining.

2cats

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Posted: Mar 4, 2013 - 5:53am
Look what I found: http://www.dailywritingtips.com/is-number-singular-or-plural/ " The noun number by itself is singular: The number on his jersey is 88. The number of unemployed has risen. However, the phrase a number of calls for a plural verb: A number of protesters were arrested. There are a significant number of sources."

Antigone

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Posted: Mar 4, 2013 - 5:52am
gypsyman wrote: So, the basic sentence would be "There is a number." ? Crap, maybe I'll just burn my English degree ..... Would you say "There are a number"? Without the "of" phrase? I hope neither of us will have to burn our English degrees.

DD gypsyman

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Posted: Mar 4, 2013 - 5:48am
oldviolin wrote: or at least submit it for remedial review... No shit.

fidget

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Posted: Mar 4, 2013 - 5:46am

oldviolin

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Posted: Mar 4, 2013 - 5:43am
gypsyman wrote: So, the basic sentence would be "There is a number." ? Crap, maybe I'll just burn my English degree ..... or at least submit it for remedial review...

DD gypsyman

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Posted: Mar 4, 2013 - 5:41am
Antigone wrote: Sorry, the subject of the sentence in question is "number" not "of cats and dogs" ... I'm sticking with "is." So, the basic sentence would be "There is a number." ? Crap, maybe I'll just burn my English degree .....

Antigone

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Posted: Mar 4, 2013 - 5:32am

gypsyman wrote:

Rule of thumb - the subject of the sentence is cats and dogs, therefore, the basic sentence is "There are cats and dogs." - "a small number" and "in the yard" merely qualifies the subject. If you make it "There is cats and dogs" it doesn't work. If you want to speak in Pirate, you could say "There be cats and dogs, yarrgh!" {#Wink}

Sorry, the subject of the sentence in question is "number" not "of cats and dogs" ... I'm sticking with "is."

oldviolin

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Posted: Mar 4, 2013 - 5:26am
Antigone wrote: I'm pretty sure that "is" is correct. The verb refers to "number" not "of cats and dogs." This is correct with "number." If "number" had been the plural word "numbers" then "are" would have been correct. However, at this time of the morning it makes me numb and number just thinking about it...

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