0
Eraemia Posted 15 years ago
Grammar

There are a limited number of opportunities? (Subject-Verb Agreement Question)

Daer EnglishForward.com Community:

Which of the following is grammatically correct?
1. There are a limited number of opportunities.
2. There are limited number of opportunities.
3. There is a limited number of opportunities.
4. There are limited numbers of opportunities.

My understanding is that "a limited number of" is the prepositional phrase and "opportunities" is the noun, therefore "are" should agree with "scholarships". Furthermore, "a" should agree with "number" in "a limited number of", hence option 1.

Thank you for any help. My grammar is horrible!

Sincerely,

Eraemia
  

Top answer

Welcome! 1. and 4 are correct, but 1.

— Canadian45

  • Welcome!
  • 1.
  • and 4 are correct, but 1.
  • is a (much) more common sentence.
  • "a limited number of' is plural , so "are" is correct.
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

7 Answers
0
Welcome!

1. and 4 are correct, but 1. is a (much) more common sentence.

"a limited number of' is plural, so "are" is correct.

2. is wrong because there is no "a".

3. is wrong because there is not just one opportunity.

4. can refer to the numbers of opportunities in different locations or fields of endeavor.
0
0
eraemiaThere are a limited number of opportunities.
Use this one.

The agreement in a 'there is/there are' construction is typically between the verb and the first noun after the verb, but there are exceptions. When the verb is followed by 'a number of' or 'a lot of' (or similar expressions), the agreement is between the verb and the noun after 'a num
0
0
Thank you for all the helpful responses. So is "a number of" or "a lot of" considered a prepositional phrase?
0
0
eraemiaThank you for all the helpful responses. So is "a number of" or "a lot of" considered a prepositional phrase?
No. Only beginning at 'of'. The prepositional phrases are underlined below:

There are a limited number of opportunities.

There are a lot of flowers in your garden.

CJ
0
0
Thank you once again! Emotion: smile
0
0
sincerely, thank you. your explanations were helpful.
0
0

The verb agreement has nothing to do with prepositional phrases. The word 'number' is a collective noun, meaning that even though singular, it is a set of objects, or plural by nature. Examples are 'family' or 'team' or 'club', all of which have (usually) more than one member. In British English, these usually take a plural verb, such as, 'the family are going on a picnic today.' This soun

0

Related Questions