Grammar sanity check.

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Is this correct (I am pretty sure it is)...

The correct number of candles is on the cake.

The alternative would be...

the correct number of candles are on the cake.

((My understanding is that either is correct.))

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Type: Discussion • Score: 10 • Views: 436 • Replies: 27

[+3] - George - 03/09/2009Call me Mr. Picky, but I believe that when the collective noun "number" is used with "a" then it takes a plural verb, but when used with "the", it takes a singular...
[+3] - chai2 - 03/09/2009[quote="NickFun"] The correct number of candles are on the cake. Candles = plural. [/quote] number=singular
[+3] - DrewDad - 03/09/2009"Candles" is part of the prepositional phrase "of candles". The subject of the sentence is "number". The verb should agree with the subject. The number of people...
[+2] - DrewDad - 03/09/2009No, the verb should agree with "number". (IMO)
[+2] - chai2 - 03/09/2009but then you are referring to "type" which makes it "is" The correct answer is "is" not "are" but of course, that depends on what the definition of...
[+2] - Thomas - 03/09/2009"Is". The number of the verb has to match the number of the noun, and the noun you need to match is "number". Contrast: "There [i]are[/i] enough candles on the cake."
[+2] - patiodog - 03/09/2009Neither am correct.
[+1] - DrewDad - 03/09/2009IMO, the first is more correct, but either is acceptable.
[+1] - djjd62 - 03/09/2009i are a big fan of the grammar
[+1] - Francis - 03/09/2009Some stats from google: "the correct number is" : 66 000 hits "the correct number are" : 257 hits "either is correct" : 21 300 hits "either are...

IMO, the first is more correct, but either is acceptable.

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@DrewDad,

i think it's "are" because you're talking about more than one candle...

2 Replies

@Region Philbis,

No, the verb should agree with "number". (IMO)

0 Replies

Call me Mr. Picky, but I believe that when the collective noun "number" is used
with "a" then it takes a plural verb, but when used with "the", it takes a singular
verb.

A number of candles are . . .
The number of candles is . . .

0 Replies

i are a big fan of the grammar

0 Replies

Some stats from google:

"the correct number is" : 66 000 hits
"the correct number are" : 257 hits

"either is correct" : 21 300 hits
"either are correct" : 3 480 hits

"I are a" : 1 490 000 hits.

0 Replies

@Region Philbis,

Region Philbis wrote:

i think it's "are" because you're talking about more than one candle...

I would agree with RP on this one.

You could have:
"The correct type of candle is on the cake", for example.

1 Reply

@Reyn,

but then you are referring to "type" which makes it "is"

The correct answer is "is" not "are"

but of course, that depends on what the definition of "is", is.

2 Replies

@chai2,

Oh, and remember, it's not Memorial Day yet, so, don't be bringing out those white shoes just yet.

0 Replies

@chai2,

I was merely giving an example where one could use "is". In that situation, it said "candle".

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The correct number of candles are on the cake.

Candles = plural.

1 Reply

you people don't have a grammar police to settle this? tsk tsk. we Slovaks, do. In fact it is against the law to use bad grammar, you can be fined up to 100 EUR for that.

1 Reply

@NickFun,

NickFun wrote:

The correct number of candles are on the cake.

Candles = plural.

number=singular

0 Replies

"Candles" is part of the prepositional phrase "of candles". The subject of the sentence is "number". The verb should agree with the subject.

The number of people is large.

3 Replies

@DrewDad,

Indeed, that's how it should be, but who am I to tell...

0 Replies

@DrewDad,

Yes, now that I rethink it, I believe you are correct. Well done. I seemed to have forgotten some of my grammar.

0 Replies

@ebrown p,

"Is". The number of the verb has to match the number of the noun, and the noun you need to match is "number".

Contrast: "There are enough candles on the cake."

0 Replies

@dagmaraka,

Seriously? That would make Slovaks even more authoritarian than the French. I always thought that's a tough standard to match when it comes to language.

Grammar sanity check.

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