subject verb involving "of"

[ssang]

subject verb

 

Hi

 

I have a bit of problems identifying which is the correct subject verb form. In Manhattan's guide, it says "of" is just a middleman and you should ignore it. So,

a GROUP (of students) HAS

 

But why in this question, this rule doesn't seem to apply? Can someone please clarify the rules and use of "of"? Could it be the use of "which" that changes it to singular, if so, can the rules of use of "which" be explained too? Thanks lots!

 

The newly elected baseball commissioner has asked that a federal arbitrator wouuld mediate negotiations between representatives of the umpire's union, which has threatened to go on strike, and the lawyers representing major league franchise owners.

A)

B) that a federal arbitrator mediate negotiations between representatives of the umpire's union, which have threatened

C) of a federal arbitrator that he mediate negotiations between representatives of the umpire's union, which have threatened

D) a federal arbitrator that he mediate negotiations between representatives of the umpire's union, which has threatened

E) a federal arbitrator to mediate negotiations between representatives of the umpire's union, which has threatened

 

Ans: E

[kino]

Hi ssang,

 

If I understand correctly, you are talking about--union, which has threatened to go on strike, and --

 

here has is approapriate because it is used as the verb for the "union" as a group ,which shall be treated singular...has is not used for the representatives of the union....but for union itself.

 

comments/corrections ?

[vaibhav.iit2002]

has is used for union and not representatives.... as union is collective noun.... we use has here

[ssang]

I see... Thanks so much!