Subject Verb Agreement for Fractions

Subject-verb agreement is an essential part of writing correctly and effectively. One area where this concept can be particularly tricky is when dealing with fractions. In this article, we will explore the rules for subject-verb agreement when fractions are involved, and provide some examples to help you understand how it works.

First and foremost, let`s define what a fraction is. A fraction is a numerical expression that represents a part of a whole. For example, 1/2 represents half of something, and 3/4 represents three quarters of something.

When using fractions in a sentence, it`s important to remember that they are considered singular nouns. This means that when the fraction is the subject of the sentence, the verb that follows should also be singular.

For example, when using the fraction 1/2 as the subject of a sentence, the verb should be singular, such as „One-half of the pizza is gone.” It`s important to note that if you were to use the plural form of the noun, „halves,” the verb would also need to be plural, such as „The halves of the pizza are gone.”

Another example would be, „Three-quarters of the class has passed the test.” In this sentence, „three-quarters” is the subject, and it`s singular, so the verb „has” is also singular.

It`s important to remember that when using fractions as subjects, the verb should always agree in number with the fraction. This means that if the fraction is singular, the verb should be singular, and if the fraction is plural, the verb should be plural.

In conclusion, subject-verb agreement can be tricky when dealing with fractions, but as long as you remember that fractions are considered singular nouns, you should be able to determine the correct verb form to use. Always make sure that the verb agrees in number with the subject, and you will be well on your way to writing effectively and correctly.