This is a core concept of subject-verb agreement that often causes confusion.
The rule is straightforward: The verb inside an adjective clause agrees in number (singular or plural) with the noun that the clause describes. This noun is called the antecedent.
The relative pronouns (who, that, which) are like chameleons; they take on the singular or plural identity of the antecedent they refer to. You must look past the pronoun and find the noun it represents.
1. The Basic Rule: Find the Antecedent
To choose the correct verb, simply identify the noun that who, which, or that is referring to.
Singular Antecedent → Singular Verb
If the antecedent is singular, the verb in the clause must be singular.
* Sentence: The student who is always asking questions learns the most.
* Clause: who is always asking questions
* Antecedent: The pronoun who refers to student (singular).
* Verb: Therefore, we use the singular verb is.
* Sentence: I am reading a book which was written in the 19th century.
* Antecedent: which refers to book (singular).
* Verb: Therefore, we use the singular verb was.
Plural Antecedent → Plural Verb
If the antecedent is plural, the verb in the clause must be plural.
* Sentence: The students who are always asking questions learn the most.
* Clause: who are always asking questions
* Antecedent: The pronoun who refers to students (plural).
* Verb: Therefore, we use the plural verb are.
* Sentence: I am reading the books which were written in the 19th century.
* Antecedent: which refers to books (plural).
* Verb: Therefore, we use the plural verb were.
2. The Tricky Case: "One of the..."
This is the construction that confuses most people. Pay close attention to the antecedent.
Structure: one of the [plural noun] that/who...
In this structure, the relative pronoun usually refers to the plural noun, not the word "one." The clause is describing the larger group of items from which "one" is chosen.
* Sentence: He is one of the doctors who work at the city hospital.
* Analysis: Who works at the city hospital? The doctors do. He is just one of them. The clause is describing the plural noun "doctors."
* Antecedent: who refers to doctors (plural).
* Verb: Use the plural verb work (not works).
* Sentence: This is one of the songs that were nominated for an award.
* Analysis: What was nominated for an award? The songs. This is just one of them.
* Antecedent: that refers to songs (plural).
* Verb: Use the plural verb were (not was).
3. The Exception: "The Only One of the..."
When you add the word only, the meaning changes completely. It shifts the focus from the plural group to the single individual.
Structure: the only one of the [plural noun] that/who...
Here, the clause is specifying what makes that "one" person or thing unique. The antecedent becomes the singular one.
* Sentence: He is the only one of the doctors who works on the weekend.
* Analysis: The word "only" emphasizes the individual. The clause now explains what is special about him. He is the single person who works on the weekend.
* Antecedent: who refers to the only one (singular).
* Verb: Use the singular verb works.
* Sentence: It was the only one of the songs that was played on the radio.
* Analysis: Out of all the songs, this single one was played. The uniqueness is key.
* Antecedent: that refers to the only one (singular).
* Verb: Use the singular verb was.
Quick Guide
| Construction | The Antecedent Is... | Verb Form | Example |
| a student who... | student | Singular | The student who sits in front... |
| the students who... | students | Plural | The students who sit in front... |
| one of the students who... | students | Plural | She is one of the students who sit in front. |
| the only one of the students who... | one
| Singular | She is the only one who sits in front. |
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