Re: There Are a Number vs. There is a Number


Robert Lieblich wrote:
Don Phillipson wrote:

"Velcro_SP" <NOdaclmi@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:jrnl02hervrrj1bobm7bpl3ok4pls4vs5v@xxxxxxxxxx

Which is correct?

1) There are a number of reasons I made that decision.
2) There is a number of reasons I made that decision.

If one is correct in this context, are there other contexts where it
might be appropriate to do it the other way?

1. In order to judge which is preferable in "this context,"
we need first to know the context.

Except for perverse examples constructed solely to disprove the
general rule, "A number of ... " is invariably plural in idiomatic
English, no matter the context, and any use of it with a singular verb
is just plain wrong. I know of no respectable current book on English
usage that says anything to the contrary.

People who say they use a singular verb with "a number of" (not
accusing Don of such a thing, just piggy-backing on his post) are just
kidding themselves. Here's a post of mine from 11/11/99:

So, if I say that I use a singular verb with "a number of", I'm just
kidding myself? Says who? You? Whaddayou know about what I do and
don't do, in the privacy of my own country?

<quote>

I would definitely say "A number of people has complained", because
the verb should match the subject, not the object of the preposition.

</quote>

Yup, I agree, this sounds wrong. But the OP's "There is a number of
reasons I made that decision" sounds perfectly fine to my BrE ears.
Maybe it's a contextual thing, with an Atlantic flavo[u]r.

http://www.bartleby.com/61/13/N0191300.html (scroll down to usage
note)

http://www.infoplease.com/dictionary/number (see 2)

http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictionary&va=number (click
on "number (1, noun)" and see definition 3)

It's "a number of ... are." Period.

Ooer, getting all prescriptivist on me, are you?

Will.

.

Relevant Pages

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