Sentence

The number of applicants have increased this year.

Question

Choose the best replacement for the underlined part.

Options

• (A) No improvement
• (B) has increased
• (C) are increasing
• (D) were increased

Answer

(B) has increased

Solution

1. The subject is the number, which is singular. Of applicants only describes it.
2. A singular subject needs a singular verb: has increased.
3. Are increasing and were increased are plural, and were increased also changes the meaning to a passive form.