ESL General English Grammar Questions

Re: ''Majority of Moroccans are Arabs.'' ''Majority of Moroccans is Arabs.'

Maya2 — Sat, 12 May 2007 14:59:51 GMT

Selecter wrote:
Maya2 wrote:

Nona is right

Majority has plural value

It's not always true.
A/The majority of + plural noun = plural verb (are)
The majority of + uncountable noun = singular verb (is)

Moroccan is a countable noun

The majority of + uncountable noun = singular verb -- I was not referring to these cases, Selecter.

Best wishes,

Maya

Re: ''Majority of Moroccans are Arabs.'' ''Majority of Moroccans is Arabs.'

Clive — Sat, 12 May 2007 14:54:46 GMT

Hi guys,

The majority of + uncountable noun = singular verb (is)

This structure is somewhat controversial. My dictionary comments that 'Some people feel that majority in this sense should only be used with countable nouns', although it goes on to recognize that we often in fact say things like 'the majority of the work'.

If you want to avoid this issue, you could say 'most of the work', 'most of the sugar'.

Best wishes, Clive

Re: ''Majority of Moroccans are Arabs.'' ''Majority of Moroccans is Arabs.'

nona the brit — Sat, 12 May 2007 12:25:51 GMT

i.e.

The majority of chairs are made of wood.

The majority of sugar is white.

Re: ''Majority of Moroccans are Arabs.'' ''Majority of Moroccans is Arabs.'

Selecter — Sat, 12 May 2007 12:03:56 GMT

Maya2 wrote:
Nona is right

Majority has plural value

It's not always true.
A/The majority of + plural noun = plural verb (are)
The majority of + uncountable noun = singular verb (is)

Re: ''Majority of Moroccans are Arabs.'' ''Majority of Moroccans is Arabs.''

Maya2 — Sat, 12 May 2007 09:26:23 GMT

Nona is right

Majority has plural value

Re: ''Majority of Moroccans are Arabs.'' ''Majority of Moroccans is Arabs.''

Jackson6612 — Sat, 12 May 2007 08:51:34 GMT

Nona The Brit wrote:

No.

The majority of Moroccans are Arabs.

Nona, thank you for your help. Suggestions are still welcome.

Best wishes, Jackson

Re: ''Majority of Moroccans are Arabs.'' ''Majority of Moroccans is Arabs.''

nona the brit — Sat, 12 May 2007 08:37:54 GMT

No.

The majority of Moroccans are Arabs.

''Majority of Moroccans are Arabs.'' ''Majority of Moroccans is Arabs.''

Jackson6612 — Sat, 12 May 2007 08:36:59 GMT

Which of the following sentences is correct?

1: Majority of Moroccans are Arabs.

2: Majority of Moroccans is Arabs.

I guess both are correct.