Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[Marrion]

There are some questions about "percentage of" and "percentages of".

I have seen that "a small percentage of + plural nouns" is used with "plural verbs" and "the small(or high, large, etc) percentage of + plural nouns" is used with "singular verbs"

I was taught that "percentage of" must be used with "plural verbs".

So, I am confused... I want to know why.... because I must teach my students..

What verbs can be "percetage of + plural nouns" used with?

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[1] A large percentage of women is/are.......
[2] The percentage of women is/are........
[3] A large percentage of the apple is/are rotten.
[4] The percentage of the apple is/are rotten.
[5] A large percentage of oxygen is/are.......
[6] A small percentage of them is/are
[7] The small percentage of them is/are
[9] A small percentage of it is/are
[10] The small percentage of it is/are

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[11] large percentages of women is/are.......
[12] The percentages of women is/are........
[13] large percentages of the apple is/are rotten.
[14] The percentages of the apple is/are rotten.
[15] large percentages of oxygen is/are.......
[16] A small percentages of them is/are
[17] The small percentages of them is/are
[18] A small percentage of it is/are
[19] The small percentage of it is/are

From above, which one do I have to choose, "is" or "are"?

Especially, I want to know why and wrong sentences we can't use.
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