Bob,
        I've consulted with my grammar wizards.  (Becca and My sister) and we
all agree that the correct form is "has been".  I've attached the
sentence diagram we generated.
                        -Mike


On Thu, 2006-02-16 at 15:41 -0800, Bob Miller wrote:
> This list has some language lawyers.  Here's a question about the
> English language.
> 
> Which of these is grammatically correct?
>       "There have been a number of things."
> or
>       "There has been a number of things."
> 
> It always been my understanding that the verb should match the number
> of the subject.  The subject is "a number", which is singular, so
> the correct verb is "has been".
> 
>       "There has been a letter."
>       "There has been a number."
>       "There has been a number of things."
> 
> Microsoft Word (runs on Linux under Crossover Office) flags "has been"
> as an error but accepts "have been".
> 
> Is Bill's own word processor wrong, or am I?
> 
-- 
Mike Cherba
Cavium Networks
883 Brookside Dr
Eugene, OR 97405
phone: (541) 684-3820
Cell:  (541) 914-2188
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
www.caviumnetworks.com

<<attachment: diagram.jpg>>

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