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Victo Posted 13 years ago
Grammar

S-V Agreement

I'm wondering which is correct in this situation: 'have' or 'has'.

Since the creation of this policy, there has been a number of programs that support the development of young children.

or

Since the creation of this policy, there havebeen a number of programs that support the development of young children.

I think the first one because of 'a number'. However, isn't the phrase 'a number of programs' considered one unit and thus should be treated as a plural?

So would you go with 'has' or 'have' in this one?

Thank you.
  

Top answer

victo isn't the phrase 'a number of programs' considered one unit and thus should be treated as a plural ? If it’s considered as one unit, why would it be treated as plural? A number of normally takes a plural verb, but because you have existential there , I’d say both have and has are acceptable.

— RandomGuy

  • victo isn't the phrase 'a number of programs' considered one unit and thus should be treated as a plural ?
  • If it’s considered as one unit, why would it be treated as plural?
  • A number of normally takes a plural verb, but because you have existential there , I’d say both have and has are acceptable.
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11 Answers
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victoisn't the phrase 'a number of programs' considered one unit and thus should be treated as a plural?
If it’s considered as one unit, why would it be treated as plural?

A number of normally takes a plural verb, but because you have existential there,
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victothere have been a number of programs
As shown in the quote box.

"the number of Xs" is singular.
"a number of Xs" is plural.

The number of traffic fatalities has been increasing.
A number of traffic fatalities have been caused by texting while driving.

Strange, but true.
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Only the strictest prescriptivist would treat "a number of Xs" as singular. Natural English makes it "there have been a number of programs that support ...." It is the same as "there have been several programs ...."
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CalifJimAs shown in the quote box.
"the number of Xs" is singular.
"a number of Xs" is plural.
The number of traffic fatalities has been increasing.
A number of traffic fatalities have been caused by texting while driving.
I thought you were all for the rule that both a singular and a plural verb are correct in a dummy there construction
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In thinking about this, the focus appears to be on the many programs, so I'd use "have".

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victoIn thinking about this, the focus appears to be on the many programs, so I'd use "have".
Yes, the COCA has a lot more citations for have.
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Good discussion, my fellow grammarians!
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Aspara GusI’m not seeing any difference between a number of [noun] and, for example, a pen and a book.
Tsk, tsk, tsk. You'll have to look closer!
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CalifJimThe comparison should not be to the case of a compound subject but to the case of other 'number transparent' expressions, which make the agreement with the element after of.
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Aspara GusOne of these days I’ll win an argument against you.
It seems to me you already have quite a few times.
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