Should the verb, in the following sentence, be singular or plural?
A series of samples was produced.
In a related question I found a reference. However the text in that reference seems to contradict itself.
Nouns that are “collective” take a singular verb when the group as a whole is meant.
Commonly used collective nouns include “number,” “majority,” “series,” and “variety.”
Note that when collective nouns refer to a singular group as a whole they are often preceded by the word “a”;
Based on these rules, I would expect that, since I am using an indefinite article a series, the singular form of the verb is to be used. However the reference uses plural in an example
A series of western blots were performed to assay protein expression.
Best Answer
Apparently, there are two ways we could go about/around this issue.
As Quantified Collective - treating the collective as the quantifiable:
As Quantifying adjective - treating the collective as adjective to quantity the noun:
The following makes the issue obvious:
"Lot" being used as quantified collective:
"Lot" being used as quantifying adjective:
The context should spontaneously indicate collective or adjective usage.
"Few" is more likely used as quantifying adjective than as quantified collective, because you would never say,
(In fact, is "few" even a collective descriptor?)