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ESL forum >
Ask for help > a doubt
a doubt
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Urpi
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a doubt
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Which is correct to say:
A majority of the class is /are boys
thanks |
27 Feb 2013
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cunliffe
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The majority of the class are boys. In cases like this, I always prefer the plural agreement e.g the team are happy.... Lynne |
27 Feb 2013
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ueslteacher
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The majority of the class are boys. Sophia
@Lynne: must have been posting at the same time.
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27 Feb 2013
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cunliffe
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@Sophia: at least we agree! |
27 Feb 2013
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cunliffe
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Alex, you have put the cat among the pigeons! I think there is an element of personal choice here. However, a straw poll conducted among the intelligentsia demonstrated that a growing majority prefer (not prefers!) the plural agreement.
...And at least Urpi didn �t say, �I have a doubt � which is a red rag to a bull for certain members here, who shall remain nameless!!!
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27 Feb 2013
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alex1968
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Right you are Lynne
�Majority� is one of those words
that can be either singular or plural. Common sense works pretty well in
deciding which. If you mean the word to describe a collection of
individuals, then the word should be treated as plural: �The majority of
e-mail users are upset about the increase in spam.� If the word is used
to describe a collective group, then consider it singular: �A 90%
majority is opposed to scheduling the next meeting at 6:00 A.M.� If you
are uncertain which you mean, then choose whatever form sounds best to
you; it �s not likely to bother many people.
�Majority� should be used only with countable nouns: �he ate the
majority of the cookies,� but not �he ate the majority of the pie.�
Instead say, �he ate most of the pie.�
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27 Feb 2013
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almaz
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But majority tends to be used with the singular agreement when it stands alone, as in "the majority elects the candidate it wants" - although it�s not that difficult to make an argument for the plural verb. It�s usually when we see it followed by of + plural that we expect a plural verb.
@alex1968 There �s an interesting section in Merriam-Webster �s Dictionary of English Usage which refers to the word being discouraged when applied to �something regarded as not countable � but reminds us that this attitude �appears to be the residuum of an older aversion to the use of majority for anything that does not vote. �
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28 Feb 2013
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