Wordsmith.org: the magic of words

Wordsmith Talk

About Us | What's New | Search | Site Map | Contact Us  

Topic Options
#209919 - 03/06/13 03:48 AM One in 10 students in my class is / are rich.
Lionel Koh Offline
stranger

Registered: 09/24/12
Posts: 7
One in 10 students in my class is / are rich.

Which bold word should I use?

Thanks.

Top
#209920 - 03/06/13 06:42 AM Re: One in 10 students in my class is / are rich. [Re: Lionel Koh]
Rhubarb Commando Offline
old hand

Registered: 11/13/11
Posts: 1032
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

Top
#209922 - 03/06/13 07:20 AM Re: One in 10 students in my class is / are rich. [Re: Lionel Koh]
Faldage Offline
Carpal Tunnel

Registered: 12/01/00
Posts: 13657
Unless you feel that you're not really talking about one student, you're talking about 10% of the class.

Top
#209923 - 03/06/13 12:30 PM Re: One in 10 students in my class is / are rich. [Re: Lionel Koh]
gooofy Offline
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.

Top


Moderator:  Jackie 
Forum Stats
8430 Members
16 Forums
13689 Topics
209809 Posts

Max Online: 3341 @ 12/09/11 02:15 PM
Newest Members
supermatthias, prabakaran, sce, Eva, sylviasuper
8430 Registered Users
Who's Online
0 registered (), 38 Guests and 1 Spider online.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Top Posters (30 Days)
LukeJavan8 85
jenny jenny 60
wofahulicodoc 57
endymion6 50
Rhubarb Commando 37
BranShea 33
Faldage 14
Buffalo Shrdlu 14
zmjezhd 13
teepee 11
May
Su M Tu W Th F Sa
1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8 9 10 11
12 13 14 15 16 17 18
19 20 21 22 23 24 25
26 27 28 29 30 31

Disclaimer: Wordsmith.org is not responsible for views expressed on this site. Use of this forum is at your own risk and liability - you agree to hold Wordsmith.org and its associates harmless as a condition of using it.

Home | Today's Word | Yesterday's Word | Subscribe | FAQ | Archives | Search | Feedback
Wordsmith Talk | Wordsmith Chat

© 2013 Wordsmith