Teacher Discussion Forums

Question:
One of the students who (come/comes) from the USA was late this morning.
Which verb is right?
I have been answered by different people including one English-speaking foreign teacher and a textbook website Q&A, they just gave me the different answers---the former for "comes", the latter for "come". It makes me so confused...

"One of the students who (come/comes) from the USA was late this morning"

"Comes" is correct. The verb will agree with the main noun, which is "one" If the subject was students, then the verb would be "comes"
Students who come...

Hope this helps

"One of the students who (come/comes) from the USA was late this morning"

I would say that came would be better, not the two given. I'm saying this because I assume that the students from the USA don't constantly cross the border to come to class, and since these people are here, they came once to where they are studying.

Senorita Daniels wrote:"One of the students who (come/comes) from the USA was late this morning"

I would say that came would be better, not the two given. I'm saying this because I assume that the students from the USA don't constantly cross the border to come to class, and since these people are here, they came once to where they are studying.

That's an interesting way of looking at it, Senorita Daniels. For me, "comes" sounds more natural. My students come from many different countries. They currently live in the U.S. and only rarely go back to their countries for a visit. I still would prefer that they say, "I come from Mexico." or "I am from Mexico." than "I came from Mexico." "I came from Mexico." sounds like it was just the place they were at last, as opposed to the place they lived in.

It depends on whether your relative pronoun "who" is referring to "One" or "students". Technically, it would seem to refer to your subject, 'One' and therefore take the singular 'comes'. This would essentially be necessary if the students come from different countries.

However, if all of the students come from America, then normal usage would accept reference to the students as a whole. And we know that all of the students in question DO come from America because there is no comma separating the subordinate clause. Therefore it's considered a defining clause and represents one thought (...the students who come from America...) So the given case demands the plural (come). By the book, Admiral. If you're up against TOEFL, GRE, or whatever, this is what you'll get zapped on.

No need to depend on what sounds natural!