The following quotes all seem to contain agreement errors between their subjects and predicates:
A total of five youths were arrested in both incidents.
Shouldn't it be "A total . . . was"? The sense is plural overall, but the subject is the singular "total." The object of the preposition is "five youths." Nonetheless, the verb should be the singular "was," agreed?
Early returns from rural areas indicated that support from the Communists remain strong.
Shouldn't it be ". . . support . . . remains strong"?
A group of neighborhood volunteers are identifying these houses and forcing owners to fix them up or tear them down.
Shouldn't it be "A group . . . is"?
The council's actions, concluding more than six hours of testimony on the matter, effectively nullifies a city hearings officer's decision.
Shouldn't it be "The council's actions . . . nullify"?
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