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.