Question

1983 3 One of the eggs were bad. One of the eggs [[were]] bad. was After a phrase beginning with one of , the verb is singular: 'One of the main disadvantages is the cost of the battery.'However when one of is followed by a relative clause, the verb in the relative clause can be singular or plural, depending on the meaning: 'I had a long talk to one of his daughters, who is married to an architect.' 'We were introduced to one of the consultants, who were gathered together in the foyer.' In cases where a singular verb and a plural verb seem equally possible, careful users generally prefer a plural verb: 'Peter is one of those people who are always prepared to help.'

Accepted Answer

one ✗ One of the eggs was bad. One of the eggs [[was]] bad. were | was

Idx	1983
Keyword	one
Sub Entry Number	3
Type of Sentence	✗
Error Sentence	One of the eggs were bad.
Correct Sentence	One of the eggs was bad.
Cloze Error Sentence	One of the eggs [[were]] bad.
Cloze Sentence	One of the eggs [[was]] bad.
Cloze Answer	was
Choices	were \| was
Explanation	After a phrase beginning with one of , the verb is singular: 'One of the main disadvantages is the cost of the battery.' However when one of is followed by a relative clause, the verb in the relative clause can be singular or plural, depending on the meaning: 'I had a long talk to one of his daughters, who is married to an architect.' 'We were introduced to one of the consultants, who were gathered together in the foyer.' In cases where a singular verb and a plural verb seem equally possible, careful users generally prefer a plural verb: 'Peter is one of those people who are always prepared to help.'

Eggs Bad Verb Relative Singular Plural Phrase Beginning