Tricky rules
- Indefinite pronouns (everyone, each) → singular.
- 'A number of' → plural; 'the number of' → singular.
- Subjects joined by 'and' → plural.
Intervening phrases
- Ignore phrases between subject and verb: The list of names is long.
Key idea
Match verbs to the true subject; indefinite pronouns are singular and intervening phrases do not change agreement.
Remember
'A number of students are'; 'the number of students is'.