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Anonymous Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

Proper verb when noun is singular but plural

Hi,

Can you tell me if this is correct?


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Only a limited amount of visitors are allowed at any one time.

I realized "amount" is singular, but represents many people, so is "are" correct, or "is"?

What about if one used a limited "number"? or a "small group of" does it change it?

Many thanks for any definitive answers.

Steve
  

Top answer

"Amount" shouldn't be used with a countable. " In this case, "group" may be singular or plural, according to how you think of it in your mind. (notional concord)

— Avangi

  • "Amount" shouldn't be used with a countable.
  • " In this case, "group" may be singular or plural, according to how you think of it in your mind.
  • (notional concord)
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1 Answers
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"Amount" shouldn't be used with a countable.

I'd suggest "A limited number of visitors are etc."

(The number of visitors is growing.)

"Only a limited amount of fuel remained in the tanks."

"A small group of visitors is/are waiting outside."
In this case, "group" may be singular or plural, according to how you think of it
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