"there is a small number of" vs "there are a small number of"

Question

"there is a small number of" vs "there are a small number of"

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'There is a small number of' is used when referring to a singular noun, while 'There are a small number of' is used when referring to a plural noun. The choice between 'is' and 'are' depends on the subject of the sentence.

Last Updated: March 23, 2024

Use 'there is a small number of' when the subject is singular, such as 'There is a small number of students in the class.'

Examples:

There is a small number of apples on the tree.
There is a small number of books on the shelf.

Alternatives:

There is a small amount of
There is a small quantity of
There is a small percentage of
There is a small portion of
There is a small group of

Use 'there are a small number of' when the subject is plural, such as 'There are a small number of books on the shelf.'

Examples:

There are a small number of students in the class.
There are a small number of cars in the parking lot.

Alternatives:

There are a few
There are a couple of
There are several
There are not many
There are only a handful of

Answer 1

there is a small number of

This phrase is correct when referring to a singular noun.

Answer 2

there are a small number of

This phrase is correct when referring to a plural noun.

"there is a small number of" vs "there are a small number of"

there is a small number of

there are a small number of

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