Who, Which, and That as Subjects

When who, which, or that acts as the subject of a clause, the key to its number lies in the word being modified by the clause.

Here's the girl {who shovels snow}.
Here are the girls {who shovel snow}.

Who, which, or that can play two parts at the same time: dependent word and subject of a dependent clause. In such a case, the verb must agree with the word that the clause modifies.

The hot water faucet, {which has been dripping for days}, is hard to fix.
None of the pipes {that lead to the sink} seem to have shut-off valves.

Application 10

/* */ CONTENTS MAIN PAGE 12.1 Pretest 12.2 Writing 12.3 Present Tenses 12.4 Was and Were 12.5 There is, There are, and There Were 12.6 Modifying Phrases or Clauses 12.7 Indefinite Pronouns as Subjects 12.8 Who, Which, and That as Subjects 12.9 Compound Subjects 12.10 Review and Practice Part 1 12.10 Review and Practice Part 2 12.11 Fun with Grammar 12.12 Return to Your Writing 12.13 Mastery Test