Most of the class is/are very smart.

[birgit33]

"Most of the class is/are very smart." Are both "is/are" correct in combination with "class"?

 

[5jj]

"Most of the class is/are very smart." Are both "is/are" correct in combination with "class"?

I feel that only 'are' is correct.

 

[philo2009]

AmE users will probably prefer 'is'. BrE users will settle for either.

 

[5jj]

I have just had a look through BNC and COCA. It seems that both singular and plural verb forms are equally common after 'most of + group noun' in both varieties of English, so my feeling (post #2) is clearly only a personal one.

 

[spongie]

I think both can be correct.

"Most of the class is very smart" = we refer to the group of smart students as a whole.
"Most of the class are very smart" = we think about each smart student (as individuals).

It just depends on what you are trying to express.