Korean Job Discussion Forums

[raewon]

I'm having another subject-verb agreement breakdown!

Could someone please take a look at the following four sentences?

(1) Twenty-five percent of them are concerned about it.
(2) Ten percent of Americans enjoy it.

According to the rule I learned, I think (1) and (2) are correct.
(them = are / Americans = enjoy)

But what about....


(3) The same percentage of American teens is/are concerned about their health.

(4) The smallest percentage of them worries/worry about money.

What are the correct answers for (3) and (4)?

Thanks a lot.

[Dog Soldier]

Is a bit early for me but are and worry are correct

[raewon]

Thanks for the quick reply. That's what I thought.... but MS word
puts a line under (3) and (4) when "are" and "worry" are used - claiming
that is a grammar error.

[YTMND]

I know not to take sides now http://www.englishforums.com/English/50PercentIsAre/wdlmr/post.htm

Depends on context.

Maybe it's because "percent" = "per cent" = for every 100.

For every 100, 25 are concerned and 10 enjoy.

[FMPJ]

Fractions and percentages are like *most any all some*--their singularity/plurality is dependent on the nouns they're associated with:

25% of the house IS protected by marauding poltergeists.

25% of the children HAVE hereditary polydactyly.

So:

1) are
2) enjoy
3) are
4) worry

ON EDIT: I'm referring to US usage. I know collective nouns are treated differently in the UK, for example, so I won't comment on British or Antipodal conventions.

[The Cosmic Hum]