Subject Verb Agreement
Which one of the following three sentences is correct.
I suppose C.
A]. One third of the students are absent.
B]. one third of the student is absent.
C]. One third of the students is absent.
Top answer
Actually, it's A. When you use a fraction with a countable noun, you use the plural 'are'. If it was referring to a non-countable noun then it would need to be singular ('is').
- Actually, it's A.
- When you use a fraction with a countable noun, you use the plural 'are'.
- If it was referring to a non-countable noun then it would need to be singular ('is').
- ' B would make no sense at all, while C is something which would make some sense (ONE third) but the nature of the noun takes priority here.
- Countable noun = 'are'.
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Actually, it's A. When you use a fraction with a countable noun, you use the plural 'are'. If it was referring to a non-countable noun then it would need to be singular ('is').
For example, 'One third of the coal is...' yet 'one third of the students are...'
B would make no sense at all, while C is something which would make some sense (ONE third) but the nature of the noun takes
0sohel sorwarA]. One third of the students are absent.
This is correct.
Here, the verb agrees with the noun that occurs after "of"
One-third of the food is to be kept ready for any unexpected guests.
One-third of men are going to boycott the meeting.
P.S: Cross-posted
0I agree with the other answers, and would just add that singular agreement can be overridden if the head of the oblique is a collective noun:
One third of the electorate takes/take drugs.
0
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