Question about 'one of + plural nouns + an attributive clause'
Michael is one of those rare people who BELIEVES in ancient myths.

I also found 'a plural verb' used in 'the attributive clause' in 'one of + plural nouns + an attributive clause' structure. For instance, This is one of the best novels that HAVE been published this year.(There is no definite article 'the' before 'one'. If there is 'the' before 'one', a singular verb form should be used in the attributive clause, that is, this is THE one of the best novels that HAS been published this year.)

My question is why different verb forms (singular and plural) are used in this same sentence structure. Is the reason for this that the different relative pronouns, WHO and THAT, are used separately in the two attributive clauses? Thank you.

Question

Question about 'one of + plural nouns + an attributive clause'
Michael is one of those rare people who BELIEVES in ancient myths. 

I also found 'a plural verb' used in 'the attributive clause' in 'one of + plural nouns + an attributive clause' structure. For instance, This is one of the best  novels  that HAVE been  published  this year.(There is no definite article 'the' before 'one'. If there is 'the' before 'one', a singular verb form should be used in the attributive clause, that is, this is THE one of the best novels that HAS been published this year.)

My question is why different verb forms (singular and plural) are used in this same sentence structure. Is the reason for this that the different relative pronouns, WHO and THAT, are used separately in the two attributive clauses? Thank you.

Answer

The sentences are different. They could be rewritten as follows.
1)  Of those rare people, Michael is one who BELIEVES in ancient myths.
2)  Of the novels that HAVE been published this year, this is one of the best.

Answer

Thank you Tom for your comment. :)

Answer

As a rule, in sentences of this kind the verb should be plural as can be seen by rewriting the sentence as follows:

Of those rare people who BELIEVE in ancient myths, Michael is one.
 
The verb agrees with people, the subject of the clause.  So, "Michael is one of those rare people who BELIEVE in ancient myths".
However, the sentence "Michael is one of those rare people who BELIEVES in ancient myths" is also correct.  This construction emphasizes Michael's individuality.

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