English Language Discussion Forums

whl626 · #1 02-Dec-2003, 00:49

More than one fifth of the world population is or are Chinese ?

**Red5** · #2 02-Dec-2003, 09:20

Aaaah, this old bugbear!

Casiopea · #3 02-Dec-2003, 09:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by whl626

More than one fifth of the world population is or are Chinese ?

In English, a verb argrees in number with its subject. Consider,

Chinese speakers make up one fifth of the world's population.
Subject = Chinese speakers (they, plural)
Verb = make up (plural)

One fifth of the world's population is made up of Chinese speakers.
Subject = One fifth of the population (it, singular)
Verb = is (singular)

Now,

One fifth of the population (singular) is (singular) Chinese.

:D

whl626 · #4 02-Dec-2003, 10:57

Even though I know so well about the agreement. But to Oriental people, they dare not use ( is ) :(. It doesn't sound right to them :P.

This makes me wonder if there is exception.

But to double confirm is a good thing to clear up the mess once and for all :)

Thanks Cas

**Tdol** · #5 02-Dec-2003, 13:15

In British English, we don't really care much about the distinction between singular and plural in such cases and will happily use both 'is' and 'are'. I would say that the majority would go for the plural. Many AE speakers find this strange, but we say 'the team is\are' without any concern.

whl626 · #6 02-Dec-2003, 13:59

Huh, tdol

This is what I want to hear :) Well, I would stick to the root of the grammar but give some leeway for the exception :)

**Tdol** · #7 02-Dec-2003, 14:35

To us it's a matter of interprtation. If you say 'the company is', then you view it as an identity. If you use the plural, you see it as a collection of individuals. We feel either view is OK.