One in 10 students in my class is / are rich.

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#209919 - 03/06/13 03:48 AM One in 10 students in my class is / are rich.
Lionel Koh stranger Registered: 09/24/12 Posts: 7	One in 10 students in my class is / are rich. Which bold word should I use? Thanks.
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#209920 - 03/06/13 06:42 AM Re: One in 10 students in my class is / are rich. [Re: Lionel Koh]
Rhubarb Commando old hand Registered: 11/13/11 Posts: 1039 Loc: Lancaster, UK	Welcome, Lionel. Is - the subject of the sentence is 'one student', therefore the verb must be singular. _________________________ I'm immortal until proven otherwise
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#209922 - 03/06/13 07:20 AM Re: One in 10 students in my class is / are rich. [Re: Lionel Koh]
Faldage Carpal Tunnel Registered: 12/01/00 Posts: 13666	Unless you feel that you're not really talking about one student, you're talking about 10% of the class.
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#209923 - 03/06/13 12:30 PM Re: One in 10 students in my class is / are rich. [Re: Lionel Koh]
gooofy newbie Registered: 01/19/12 Posts: 37	According to MWDEU, the plural verb is more common in this construction, although the singular verb is found. Use of the plural verb is due to notional agreement - that is, the subject is seen as a percentage, as Faldage says.
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