Numerical expressions - singular or plural

To me, the use of plural (have) suggests that you have a personal involvement in the group: you are one of the students of which every second has been expelled. The singular 3rd person inflection is free of such connotations.
If you ask me, in case of group noun-verb agreement, the verb form to be chosen only comes down to whether there is some personal involvement or not. I have not heard of your rule.

Hi,

Yes, sorry, in the case of students, which is not a collective noun, but refers to a group, only plural verb is acceptable.

Anonymous wrote:

Hi ! The answer to the question lies in the sentence itself. One should always look at the object of preposition. for ex in this sentence fifty percent of the students; students is plural, so it will be followed by plural verb,which is have in this case. Further, if the objct of preposition is singular then it'll be followed by singular form of verb.

Well... then what about the faculty (singular in 1st sentence and plural in the 2nd) in the following examples.

1. One half of the faculty is (not are) retiring this summer.
2. One half of the faculty have (not has) doctorates.

Following is the source:
[link]

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