Mostly subject verb agreement issues: One of the

Question

Mostly subject verb agreement issues:


One of the children   are/is   playing

Many of the people   are/is   playing

The banks of England that   are/is  

The banks of England   are/is  

Five percent of the cars   are/is   bad

Can someone suggest what verbs need to go above and why?

Thanks!

laxieqv · Answer

One of the children is playing
( one, each, every, someone, somebody, something, no one, nobody, nothing, anyone, anybody, anything, whatever, whoever + singular verb)

Many of the people are playing
( "many" indicates plural )

The banks of England that are
( in this case, "that" modifies "the banks" ---> verb is still plural)

The banks of England are
( "banks" is plural)

Five percent of the cars are bad
( check it on this page: https://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/sv_agr.htm )

I hope this helps

Hindustan · Answer

That helps Laxie. You are a master! :-D

When should "that" affect the verb? i.e. X of Y that...

laxieqv · Answer

This point is rather confusing ...however, from my experience, i notice that "that" does modify the noun preceding all prepositions of the noun phrase ....for your example, "that" should modify "X" p.s: hik, i'm not a master or a guru or so forth :oops:

. I still have to learn a lot from all of you! Let's share and help

Hindustan · Answer

Example:

One of the substances that tell individual genes...
CORRECT (that modifies substances, thus plural, hence 'tell')

One of the substances that tells individual genes...
INCORRECT

laxieqv · Answer

Yes, you're correct

I now recall this point is a favorable trap in GMAT

prashant_13 · Answer

I still cannot not uderstand this concept
Can you please explain this one ..which one is correct and why?
provides or provide?
 One of the substances that provides/provide the strongest amount of energy to generate life is manure.

laxieqv · Answer

Uhm, it's quite confusing 
Back to the example " one of the children that are/is playing "

The addition of "the children" here is to clarify the kind/type/group to which "one" belong ----> what's the special point of this kind/type/ group is further indicated by "that" clause ----> logically, "that ...." modifies " the children" -----> the verb of "That" clause must be of "the children", that is to say, it must be plural. 

I think this reasoning can be applied generally.

prashant_13 · Answer

One of the substances that provides/provide the strongest amount of energy to generate life is manure. 

The correct form of this sentence should be
 One of the substances that provides the strongest amount of energy to generate life is manure. 

Lax ..I think I need more explanations please..

laxieqv · Answer

IMO, it depends on the context a lot .... let's imagine ... the both speakers had talked about "the substances" before this sentence was made ....in this case, "one of the substances" is to indicate that there's solely one among the kind ......what's so special about this one? ...it's further indicated by "that" clause ...thus, that clause serves "one" instead of " the substances" ---> the verb must be singular In case, there's no such context ...."That" clause logically serves "the substances " ---> verb must be plural ... In GMAT, i don't think we're provided by outside/ pre- context ...so the second case is more applausible .... I recall myself encoutered a SC of this kind ...lemme find it and post here soon,okie?!

sangarelli · Answer

one of a greater number. When constructions headed by one appear as the subject of a sentence or relative clause, there may be a question as to whether the verb should be singular or plural. The sentence One of every ten rotors was found defective is perfectly grammatical, but sometimes people use plural verbs in such situations, as in One of every ten rotors have defects. In an earlier survey, 92 percent of the Usage Panel preferred the singular verb in such sentences. Chk this out https://www.bartleby.com/64/C001/043.html- According to this both are right but the first usage is more widely accepted.

Mostly subject verb agreement issues: One of the

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