Discussion
In the sentence below, a part is printed in bold. Choose the alternative that best replaces it. If no improvement is needed, choose ‘No correction required’.
The number of applicants have increased sharply this year.
Answer: C
Correct answer: has increased
The number of is singular and takes a singular verb: the number of applicants has increased. It contrasts directly with a number of, which means several and is plural: a number of applicants have withdrawn. The article alone decides the agreement, which is why this pair appears so often in examinations. The logic behind it is that the number names a single quantity - one figure - while a number of is simply a way of saying many, and the real subject is the plural noun that follows. A related pair works the same way: the majority of the work is done but the majority of the workers are absent - there the verb follows the noun after of, because majority takes its number from what it refers to.
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