Majority

[tipu s]

1-A majority of the students is/are absent today.

2- The majority of the people is/are against this proposal.

3- Majority is/are illiterate in the third world countries.

:?::?:

 

[5jj]

1-A majority of the students is/are absent today.

2- The majority of the people is/are against this proposal.

If what follows 'of' is a plural noun, the plural form of the verb is normally used - 'are'

3- The [STRIKE]M[/STRIKE]majority is/are illiterate in the third world. countries. We are referring to people/inhabitants/adults/etc, plural nouns 'are'.

5

 

[tipu s]

5

Sorry. Not clear. Where will the singular form of the verb (is, was, has) will be used?

 

[5jj]

Sorry. Not clear. Where will the singular form of the verb (is, was, has) will be used?

The government was defeated by a majority of 25. The majority was smaller than expected.

Here the speaker was probably thinking of a (singular) figure.