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Angliholic Posted 18 years ago
Grammar

the number of those who was/were present

0 00Though a number of students were absent yesterday, the number of those who 01b00was/ were02b00 present was relatively large.02br
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00Hi,02br
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00Does the above sound right? If yes, should I use "was" or 'were" in the context? Thanks.0-
  

Top answer

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3 Answers
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0 .02br
01i00The confusion of number in the sentence really points to the need for revision02i00:02br
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01span00Though 01b00some02b00 students were absent yesterday, 01b00most02b00 01b00were02b00 present.02span00 0-
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0Thanks, Mister, for your concise version.02br
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00To make sure, does the following sound too? Thans. (I need to put "the number of" in the base sentence for the purpose of test."02br
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01i00Though some students were absent yesterday, the number of those present was relatively large.02i0-
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0Yes. Generally:02br
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01i00A number of X02i00 will take a plural verb, but 02br
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01i00The number of X02i00 will take a singular verb.0-
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