Number
Incorrect : The number of schools in this area are increasing day by day.
Correct : The number of schools in this area is increasing day by day.
Incorrect : A number of students was absent from class today.
Correct : A number of students were absent from class today.
Note: When number is preceded by the, it denotes a unit and it is singular; when it is preceded by a, it means several or many and it is plural.
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