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Majority/Minority - Singular or plural verbs?

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Majority/Minority - Singular or plural verbs?

by Misnomer » Mon Apr 04, 2011 8:26 am
I stumbled across a question on the internet which caused much obfuscation to me.I have a problem with the term MAJORITY. I read some info. and found out that the terms Majority and Minority are apparently considered both singular and plural depending on their function in the sentence. I don't understand why E is the correct answer.Can somebody please explain? Btw, i chose A.

Studies have shown that the majority of heart-related problems are caused by a combination of poor dietary practices and lack of exercise.
(A)are caused by a combination of
(B)are caused by a combination of a
(C)are of causing by a combination of
(D)is caused by a combination of a
(E)is caused by a combination of
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by Target2009 » Mon Apr 04, 2011 8:52 am
Clear E.

A,B,C out cause Singular Subject "The majority " don't agree with verb "are" we need "is" here.
D out "combination of a" is wrong expression we need "combination of" only.
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by atulmangal » Mon Apr 04, 2011 8:53 am
Misnomer wrote:I stumbled across a question on the internet which caused much obfuscation to me.I have a problem with the term MAJORITY. I read some info. and found out that the terms Majority and Minority are apparently considered both singular and plural depending on their function in the sentence. I don't understand why E is the correct answer.Can somebody please explain? Btw, i chose A.

Studies have shown that the majority of heart-related problems are caused by a combination of poor dietary practices and lack of exercise.
(A)are caused by a combination of
(B)are caused by a combination of a
(C)are of causing by a combination of
(D)is caused by a combination of a
(E)is caused by a combination of
Op A has to be the correct answer....i think u are correct

Here is an example of MGMAT

The majority of the students in the class ARE hard workers.

Moreover, the rule is in case of majority, minority or SANAM pronouns, if they are followed by a prepositional phrase then the object of the preposition influence the VERB.

similarly, in this question, that introduce relative class and object of prepositional phrase is PLURAL (Problems)

that the majority of heart-related problems are caused -----> correct
Last edited by atulmangal on Mon Apr 04, 2011 8:57 am, edited 1 time in total.
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by Target2009 » Mon Apr 04, 2011 8:57 am
atulmangal wrote:Here is an example of MGMAT
The majority of the students in the class ARE hard workers.
of the Students - a prepositional phrase. Not sure if we can consider Students as Subject here. Can you guide me to Page no in MGMAT guide. I really wanna understand it well.. :)
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by Misnomer » Mon Apr 04, 2011 9:00 am
This is what i found in reference to the discussion..but it doesn't knock sense into my head.
"Many people find it difficult to decide whether to use a singular or plural verb with words like majority. The word itself is singular, but the majority of people is looks odd because the singular verb comes immediately after the plural noun.
In British English, a plural verb is used if the real subject of the sentence is the people: The majority of people agree with the government. If the subject is the majority, a singular verb is used: The government's majority has grown"
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by atulmangal » Mon Apr 04, 2011 9:00 am
Target2009 wrote:
atulmangal wrote:Here is an example of MGMAT
The majority of the students in the class ARE hard workers.
of the Students - a prepositional phrase. Not sure if we can consider Students as Subject here. Can you guide me to Page no in MGMAT guide. I really wanna understand it well.. :)
@ Target

Rule:- The rule in case of Quantity phrases such as majority, minority, plurality or SANAM pronouns, if they are followed by a prepositional phrase is, the object of the preposition influence the VERB.

similarly, in this question, that introduce relative class and object of prepositional phrase is PLURAL (Problems)

that the majority of heart-related problems are caused -----> correct

Manhattan SC guide page no:- 41 (chapter- sub-verb agreement)
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by Target2009 » Mon Apr 04, 2011 9:15 am
atulmangal wrote:
Target2009 wrote:
atulmangal wrote:Here is an example of MGMAT
The majority of the students in the class ARE hard workers.
of the Students - a prepositional phrase. Not sure if we can consider Students as Subject here. Can you guide me to Page no in MGMAT guide. I really wanna understand it well.. :)
@ Target

Rule:- The rule in case of Quantity phrases such as majority, minority, plurality or SANAM pronouns, if they are followed by a prepositional phrase is, the object of the preposition influence the VERB.

similarly, in this question, that introduce relative class and object of prepositional phrase is PLURAL (Problems)

that the majority of heart-related problems are caused -----> correct

Manhattan SC guide page no:- 41 (chapter- sub-verb agreement)
Thanks Atul for Reminding me basic..Agree for A now.. :)
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by AIM GMAT » Mon Apr 04, 2011 9:31 am
Misnomer wrote:
This is what i found in reference to the discussion..but it doesn't knock sense into my head.
"Many people find it difficult to decide whether to use a singular or plural verb with words like majority. The word itself is singular, but the majority of people is looks odd because the singular verb comes immediately after the plural noun.
In British English, a plural verb is used if the real subject of the sentence is the people: The majority of people agree with the government. If the subject is the majority, a singular verb is used: The government's majority has grown"
Great discussion , one more fact to highlight is that one must not follow or expect Commonwealth English to work at GMAT battle field , quoting a specific concept wherein it differs with GMAT concepts.

Wrong: We PROPOSE THAT the school board SHOULD DISBAND.

Speakers of British (Commonwealth) English should pay particular attention to the
example above. In British English, you can often use should in place of a Command
Subjunctive. Never do so on the GMAT, which is based on American English.
Thanks & Regards,
AIM GMAT
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by force5 » Mon Apr 04, 2011 12:43 pm
well said... A is the best..(the majority of heart- related problems ARE.... is correct..)
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