grammar - "one of ..." singular or plural?





  1. One of the former student

  2. One of the former students



Which one is correct, and why? Can any one explain it clearly?



Answer



In the expression "One of the former student", the speaker employs "one" to refer to one student out of a group of two or more former students. When the constituents of that group are referred to, they cannot be referred to in singular (that is, as "former student"). So, this expression is incorrect.


In the expression "one of the former students", the constituents of the group are referred in plural (that is, as "former students"). So, this expression is correct.


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