[Grammar] Half of the country's population do/does not

[Oceanlike]

I'm unsure if I should use do nor does in the following sentence. I chose 'do', but I don't know why I'm correct if I'm correct or incorrect. Please help me to understand.

- Half of the country's population do not have access to potable water.

Thank you!

 

[teechar]

I'm unsure if I should use "do" or "does" in the following sentence. I chose 'do', but I don't know [STRIKE]why I'm correct[/STRIKE] if I'm correct. [STRIKE]or incorrect.[/STRIKE] Please help me to understand.

- Half of the country's population do not have access to potable water.

Thank you!

Either can work. If your focus is on the (many) individual people, then your use of "do" is okay. Otherwise, you can use "does" to focus on half, e.g.,

The other half does not have access to sewage facilities.

 

[emsr2d2]

We rarely use "potable" in BrE. We say "drinkable water" or "drinking water".

 

[Tdol]

British speakers tend to use the plural in such cases.

 

[GoesStation]

Only the singular does is natural in American English.