One-Singular or Plural confusion/massacre One of the major

My reply below is in response to a PM regarding this post. So please note that I do not know the details of the questions that raised this doubt. However, since this is a fairly generic topic that is often raised as a doubt, I will address it in terms of simple sentences and a couple official questions:

The basic strategy remains the same - Figure out what is the Subject - Verb pair. This is of utmost importance. And then decide the number of the verb. In the context of the expression "one of the", here is a general rule of thumb

The subject = one or none {of the plural noun} IS ALWAYS SINGULAR
Reason = The subject is a single entity - ONE or NONE - so it is singular.

For example:
Only one of the children plays in the park.
Here the author is talking about 1 child out of the many children.

Let's see this construction in play in this official question.





Is "None of them are going" grammatically wrong ?

Identify the subject for the verb - "is expected". And determine if it should be singular or plural. When ready, highlight the below explanation:

Now comes another construction that is typically a source of confusion. It is the expression - One of the plural noun that/who/which clause
As you will see below, the same rule applies here as well. You just need to apply it carefully.

For example:
One of the children who play in the park is responsible for bringing the ball.
Now lets simplify this sentence into its clauses:
1: One of the children is responsible for bringing the ball
2: who play in the park

In Clause 1, one of the children is singular and hence singular verb "is"
In Clause 2, the subject "who" refers to "children" which is plural and hence plural verb "play"

Now let's apply this on an official question.

Identify the subject for the verb - "is looking". And determine if the verb should be singular or plural. When ready, highlight the below explanation:

I hope this clarifies your doubts.

For e-GMAT users, the concept of "one of the plural nouns" is discussed in the concept titled "Subject-Verb - Always Singular"
Regards,

Payal

Hey Karishma
Thanks a lot for posting and clarifying my insecurities(:D)
Happy to say that I got the prize and starting the veritas prep live online from 22nd
I want to ask you a question since you are directly affiliated to veritas.
I have my basics in a good shape and OG accuracy is not so bad either (>85%)
So what should I do to utilize the most out of the love online course without repetition of concepts that I am already familiar with?
Any light on this would be absolutely awesome.

Not one of the potential investors is expected to make an offer to buy First Interstate Bank until a merger agreement is signed that includes a provision for penalties if the deal were not to be concluded.

A. is expected to make an offer to buy First Interstate Bank until a merger agreement is signed that includes a provision for penalties if the deal were
B. is expected to make an offer for buying First Interstate Bank until they sign a merger agreement including a provision for penalties if the deal was
C. is expected to make an offer to buy First Interstate Bank until a merger agreement be signed by them with a provision for penalties if the deal were
D. are expected to make an offer for buying First Interstate Bank until it signs a merger agreement with a provision for penalties included if the deal was
E. are expected to be making an offer to buy First Interstate Bank until they sign a merger agreement including a provision for penalties if the deal were


i am confused: deal was or were, i guess deal is singular then why option A is correct.

please explain anyone......

Not one of the potential investors is expected to make an offer to buy First Interstate Bank until a merger agreement is signed that includes a provision for penalties if the deal were not to be concluded.

A. is expected to make an offer to buy First Interstate Bank until a merger agreement is signed that includes a provision for penalties if the deal were
B. is expected to make an offer for buying First Interstate Bank until they sign a merger agreement including a provision for penalties if the deal was
C. is expected to make an offer to buy First Interstate Bank until a merger agreement be signed by them with a provision for penalties if the deal were
D. are expected to make an offer for buying First Interstate Bank until it signs a merger agreement with a provision for penalties included if the deal was
E. are expected to be making an offer to buy First Interstate Bank until they sign a merger agreement including a provision for penalties if the deal were


i am confused: deal was or were, i guess deal is singular then why option A is correct.

please explain anyone......

My reply below is in response to a PM regarding this post. So please note that I do not know the details of the questions that raised this doubt. However, since this is a fairly generic topic that is often raised as a doubt, I will address it in terms of simple sentences and a couple official questions:

The basic strategy remains the same - Figure out what is the Subject - Verb pair. This is of utmost importance. And then decide the number of the verb. In the context of the expression "one of the", here is a general rule of thumb

The subject = one or none {of the plural noun} IS ALWAYS SINGULAR
Reason = The subject is a single entity - ONE or NONE - so it is singular.

For example:
Only one of the children plays in the park.
Here the author is talking about 1 child out of the many children.

Let's see this construction in play in this official question.

Identify the subject for the verb - "is expected". And determine if it should be singular or plural. When ready, highlight the below explanation:

Now comes another construction that is typically a source of confusion. It is the expression - One of the plural noun that/who/which clause
As you will see below, the same rule applies here as well. You just need to apply it carefully.

For example:
One of the children who play in the park is responsible for bringing the ball.
Now lets simplify this sentence into its clauses:
1: One of the children is responsible for bringing the ball
2: who play in the park

In Clause 1, one of the children is singular and hence singular verb "is"
In Clause 2, the subject "who" refers to "children" which is plural and hence plural verb "play"

Now let's apply this on an official question.

Identify the subject for the verb - "is looking". And determine if the verb should be singular or plural. When ready, highlight the below explanation:

I hope this clarifies your doubts.

For e-GMAT users, the concept of "one of the plural nouns" is discussed in the concept titled "Subject-Verb - Always Singular"
Regards,

Payal

As requested by the moderator, I am chiming in here.

I don't see any disagreement.

There is only one rule: Identify the subject for the verb in question.

e.g.
- Only one of the managers is working on that project.
'is' here refers to the one who is working on that project.

- He is one of the managers who are working on that project.
There are some managers who are working on that project. He is one of them.

- One of the managers who are working on that project is my boss.
Notice that 'one' corresponds to 'is' and 'managers' corresponds to 'are working'

As for your examples souvik, they are fine.