What this discussion demonstrates is that simple rules are not always quite so simple, and that conceptual understanding trumps a literal application of rules. The simple rule is: "A verb must agree in number with the head noun of the subject." Taken literally, we'd have to say "an estimated 210,000 *gallons *a day *are *coming" [we also wouldn't be able to use "an"] and "a *slew *of officials *has *been exposed." But in the former we are not picturing individual gallons but a mass of oil. The reverse is true in the latter, where we see individuals, not a mass. We can illustrate this notion with the following sentences, where a change in the verb's number alters meaning: 1. Six glasses of wine is bad. 2. Six glasses of wine are bad. The first, we're thinking an overindulgence resulting in inebriation; the second, a critique at a wine tasting. Dick On Sun, Jan 20, 2013 at 2:27 AM, John Chorazy <[log in to unmask]>wrote: > Without my own comments on these sentences or a longer preface, I'll just > submit them and ask for your thoughts on subject/verb agreement. Thank > you... > > > According to NOAA, an estimated 210,000 gallons (5,000 barrels) a day is > coming from the remaining ruptures (PBS). > > > > In recent months, a slew of low-level Communist officials as well as a > few high ranking ones —most notably the vice party chief of the > southwestern province of Sichuan, Li Chuncheng — have been exposed by > local media and dismissed from their positions after their sexual > peccadilloes came to light (NBC News). > To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web interface at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html and select "Join or leave the list" Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/