Rule

“A number of” means several and takes a plural verb. “The number of” refers to a total, and takes a singular verb.

Question

Choose the grammatically correct sentence.

Options

• (A) A number of students are absent today.
• (B) A number of students is absent today.
• (C) The number of students are absent today.
• (D) A number of students was absent today.

Answer

(A) A number of students are absent today.

Solution

1. A number of students means several students, so the verb must be plural: are.
2. Is and was are singular, so options B and D are wrong.
3. Option C uses the number of, which needs a singular verb, so are is wrong there.