"the number" के बाद हमेशा singular verb का प्रयॊग होता है और "a number" के बाद plural verb का। जैसे -
A number of suggestions were made. (इस वाक्य में "A number" के साथ plural noun और verb का प्रयॊग होता है।)
The number of people we need to hire is thirteen. ("The number of people" subject के साथ singular verb का प्रयॊग होता है।)
कुछ और उदाहरण -
A number of people have written in about this subject.
The number of people lined up for tickets was four hundred.
There are a number of important announcements in the bulletin.
Here is the number of milk shakes you requested.