Subject-Predicate Errors?

Question

A total of five youths were arrested in both incidents.(Shouldn't it be "A total . . . was"?)The sense is plural overall, but the subject is the singular "total." The object of the preposition is "five youths." Nonetheless, the verb should be the singular "was," agreed? Early returns from rural areas indicated that support from the Communists remain strong.(Shouldn't it be ". . . support . . . remains strong"?)A group of neighborhood volunteers are identifying these houses and forcing owners to fix them up or tear them down.(Shouldn't it be "A group . . . is"?)The council's actions, concluding more than six hours of testimony on the matter, effectively nullifies a city hearings officer's decision.(Shouldn't it be "The council's actions . . . nullify"?)Thank you.

Vsuresh · Accepted Answer

goronskyA total of five youths were arrested in both incidents.(Shouldn't it be "A total . . . was"?)The sense is plural overall, but the subject is the singular "total." The object of the preposition is "five youths." Nonetheless, the verb should be the singular "was," agreed?

Total is not a collective noun, and hence, the verb 'were' agrees with the subject 'five youths'

goronskyEarly returns from rural areas indicated that support from the Communists remain strong.(Shouldn't it be ". . . support . . . remains strong"?)

Yes. And, I see another possible change here: I think the sentence sounds more meaningful with indicate in place indicated

goronskyA group of neighborhood volunteers are identifying these houses and forcing owners to fix them up or tear them down.(Shouldn't it be "A group . . . is"?)

I think both can work here.

goronskyThe council's actions, concluding more than six hours of testimony on the matter, effectively nullifies a city hearings officer's decision.

goronsky(Shouldn't it be "The council's actions . . . nullify"?)

Yes.

Dave_anon · Answer

Hi

I like vsuresh's answer. I'm not sure about 'total' as a collective noun. I think it can go either way, depending on whether it's a small, countable number or seen as a quantitative measure:

- A total of five youths were arrested
- A total of about 10,000 is expected to vote here today
- A total of four inches of rain is expected today

Dave

Goronsky · Answer

Yeah, it's a 'proximity' thing, no doubt.

Goronsky · Answer

I did some investigating. The Chicago Manual of Style, 16th Edition, says:

5.9 Mass noun followed by a prepositional phrase

Mass nouns are sometimes followed by a prepositional phrase, such as number of plus a plural noun. The article that precedes the mass noun signals whether the mass noun or the number of the noun in the prepositional phrase controls the number of the verb.
If a definite article (the) precedes, the mass noun controls, and typically a singular verb is used {the quantity of pizzas ordered this year has increased}.

If an indefinite article (a or an) precedes, then the number of the noun in the prepositional phrase controls {a small percentage of the test takers have failed the exam}.

Thus:

- A total of five youths were arrested
- A total of about 10,000 ['people' is implied] are expected to vote here today
- A total of four inches of rain is expected today.
{A bulk quantity is being referred to here, so 'is' is correct. The same grammatical premise applies to 'Ten dollars is a nominal fee.'}

Dave_anon · Answer

Hi

Yes, the article does affect the choice of verb in the way that you say. But I think it can still go either way:

- a majority of the jury is still undecided
- a majority of the jury are undecided

Dave

Vsuresh · Answer

dave_anonYes, the article does affect the choice of verb in the way that you say. But I think it can still go either way:

Yes.

dave_anona majority of the jury is still undecided- a majority of the jury are undecided

I think it depends on how one considers the the collective noun, in this case 'jury'.
Am I right, Dave?

Dave_anon · Answer

Hi

I really wouldn't like to say, partly because I think there's a difference between UK and US English here

In UK English we are quite easy with singular and plural, with collective nouns

- I think the panel of five people likes me
- I think the panel of five people like me
- The company is doing what it thinks right
- The company are doing the wrong thing

Either works in UK English, but I think Americans tend to prefer the singular unless - as with the group of five young people - there is a significant influence from a small number after the preposition. That's my feeling

Dave

Vsuresh · Answer

Thank you,Dave.

Subject-Predicate Errors?

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5.9 Mass noun followed by a prepositional phrase

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