Half of

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Half of

by Fractal » Mon Sep 20, 2010 12:45 pm
Half of the polar glaciers have/has melted!

Have or has? Is half of singular?[/b]
Source: — Sentence Correction |

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by niksworth » Mon Sep 20, 2010 1:16 pm
Half of the polar glaciers have melted.

In such cases as fractions / percentages, the verb will be singular or plural depending on whether the object of the preposition is singular or plural.

Here, since glaciers is plural, the correct verb is have.

See the contrast with -

Half of the carrot has been eaten by the rabbit. (singular has for singular carrot)
scio me nihil scire

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