Understanding Subject-Verb Agreement with Quantitative Phrases
| Phrases |
|---|
| A lot of |
| A quarter of |
| Enough of |
| Half |
| Half of |
| Lots of |
| Most |
| Most of |
| Not enough of |
| One third of |
| Part of |
| Plenty of |
| Some |
| Some of |
| Ten percent of |
| The rest of |
| Three fourth of |
| Twenty percent of |
| Two third of |
In understanding the grammatical rules governing expressions like “one third of,” “two thirds of,” “three fourths of,” and similar constructions, it’s essential to grasp their impact on subject-verb agreement. When these phrases are followed by a singular uncountable noun, they operate as singular subjects, necessitating a singular verb. For instance, “One third of the milk is yet to be sold.”
Conversely, when followed by a plural countable noun, they function as plural subjects, requiring a plural verb. For instance, “Three fourths of the books are ready.”
Furthermore, if ‘the percentage of’ precedes either a singular uncountable noun or a plural countable noun, it consistently acts as a singular subject, demanding a singular verb. For example, “The percentage of success was very low.”
Understanding and applying these rules enhances clarity and precision in expressing quantity-related concepts in sentences.
