Is it '50% of the students are' or '50% of the class is'? Unsure when to use singular or plural verbs after percentages
I'm always confused about which verb form to use after percentages, especially when writing essays. For example, should I write '50% of the class is absent today' or '50% of the students are absent today'?
Does it depend on the noun that comes after the percentage, or is there another rule? I'd appreciate any clarification, as I want to make sure my writing sounds natural. Here are some other sentences I'm unsure about: '25% of the team was injured' vs. '25% of the players were injured.' Which one is correct, and why?
Context:
I'm preparing for the TOEFL exam and want my grammar to be accurate for academic writing.
What to Know
| What to Know | Why It Matters | Example | Quick Check |
|---|---|---|---|
| If the noun after 'of' is singular (a group as a single entity), use a singular verb . | If the noun is plural (many separate individuals), use a plural verb . | I used "singular" because it matched the meaning in my sentence. | Does this sentence need singular or plural verbs after percentages based on my intended meaning? |
| Writers often treat singular and plural verbs after percentages as interchangeable even when context and meaning differ. | This helps you choose wording by meaning instead of surface form. | I used "plural verbs after percentages" because the context required that meaning. | Did I choose this form for meaning, not because it looked familiar? |
3 Answers
To decide between singular and plural verbs after percentage expressions (like '50%'), always look at the noun that follows the 'of' phrase. This noun determines the verb:
Pattern:
- If the noun after 'of' is singular (a group as a single entity), use a singular verb.
- If the noun is plural (many separate individuals), use a plural verb.
Examples:
- Singular: "50% of the class is present today." ('class' is singular, so use 'is')
- Plural: "50% of the students are present today." ('students' is plural, so use 'are')
Practice Tip: Check the noun after 'of'—imagine pointing to either one group or several individuals. If you find yourself pointing to a group as one unit, choose a singular verb.
Self-Check: Review this sentence: "30% of the committee ___ opposed to the decision." Is 'committee' acting as a single entity or as individuals?
Corrective Feedback: If you're unsure, try rephrasing to avoid 'of the ____' structures, or double-check whether the noun is collective or plural. With practice, this pattern becomes automatic.
When using percentages, the verb form depends on whether the noun following the percentage is countable plural or a collective singular noun.
Compare:
- Plural noun: "60% of the employees work remotely." ('employees' is plural, so use 'work')
- Collective noun: "60% of the staff works remotely." ('staff' is a collective singular noun, so use 'works')
Key Guidance:
- Use a plural verb for countable, plural items (people, things).
- Use a singular verb for uncountable or collective nouns, unless emphasizing individual actions.
Practice: Identify the following as collective or plural and choose the correct verb:
"40% of the orchestra ____ travelled abroad."
Correct Yourself: If you get the verb agreement wrong, underline the 'of' phrase, circle the next noun, and remember: plural nouns = plural verbs, collective nouns = singular verbs (unless context suggests otherwise).
It's common to be confused by percentages and verb agreement. The rule: the noun after 'of' determines if the verb is singular or plural.
Anticipated Error: Using a plural verb just because the percentage is more than one ('50%')—the percentage does not control the verb.
Correct Usage:
Mistake: "50% of the furniture are damaged."
Correct: "50% of the furniture is damaged." ('furniture' is singular/uncountable)
Mistake: "20% of the applicants was accepted."
Correct: "20% of the applicants were accepted." ('applicants' is plural)
Self-Check Practice: When editing your writing, underline the noun after 'of' and ask: Is this noun singular or plural?
Feedback: If you want to check, swap the percentage for 'all' and see if 'all is' or 'all are' sounds right. This helps reinforce the correct verb agreement.
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