
Choose the correct verb to complete the sentence.
- One-half of the contestants (has, have) impressed the audience.
- One-third of my friend’s property (was, were) donated to the Church.
- Half of the students (has, have) enough materials for online lessons.
- Only one-fourth of the food served during the party (was, were) consumed.
- Only three percent of the voters in our barangay (comes, come) from families with political ambitions.
- Three-fourths of my short stories published in the Hiligaynon magazine (was, were) written during my teenage years.
- Eighty percent of the barangay’s recreation center (was, were) funded by barangay officials.
- Three-fourths of the jackfruit (is, are) rotten.
- Thirty percent of the students’ projects (is, are) shouldered by the school administration.
- Half of the candidates for president of the alumni association (holds, hold) prestigious positions in the business sector.
- Three-fourths of the chocolate cake (is, are) reserved for the kids in the orphanage.
- Twenty percent of the barangay’s recreation center (was, were) funded by the residents.
- Two-thirds of the papayas (is, are) still green.
- Fifty percent of the job (is, are) almost finished.
- Two-thirds of my aunt’s hair (has, have) turned gray.
ANSWERS
- have
- was
- have
- was
- come
- were
- was
- is
- are
- hold
- is
- was
- are
- is
- has
REMINDERS
- A singular or plural verb may be used for a noun introduced by a fraction or percentage depending on the object (noun) of the “OF phrase.”
USE a singular verb if the object is singular. (See sentences 2, 4, 7, 8, 11, 12, 14, and 15.)
USE a plural verb if the object is plural. (See sentences 1, 3, 5, 6, 9, 10, and 13.)
- Take note of these classic examples:
Two-thirds of the banana IS rotten.(There’s only one banana.)
Two-thirds of the bananas ARE rotten. (There are many bananas.)*