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The Majority Vs A majority!!

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The Majority Vs A majority!!

by gmat_perfect » Mon May 10, 2010 10:21 am
I have confusion about "The majority" and "A majority".

In the second eiditon, the MGMAT SC guide says:

A majority of railway commuters reads or listens to music while traveling

Additonally, the third edition of MGMAT SC guide says:

"The majority of the students in this class are hard workers"

so, which rule is correct?

In another forum, it is said that the following sentences are correct:
The majority of students are smart.
A majority of students are smart.
The majority of physics students are smart.
A majority of physics students are smart.


Would any expert shed some light on it?
Thanks.
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by iamseer » Mon May 10, 2010 12:12 pm
am sure experts will reply. In the mean while, here are my 2 cents.

Collective noun takes a singular verb when the collection is thought of a one whole and it takes a plural verb when the individuals of which it is composed are thought of.

The committee has issued its report
The committee are divided on one minor point

As far as article A/The is concerned:

The is definitive article used to point a particular thing or person.
A is indefinite article.

source: the good old High School English Grammar by Wren and Martin.

So, based on the context, one decides whether the Subject is acting as a whole or individual parts and use singular or plural verb accordingly.

HTH!!
"Choose to chance the rapids and dance the tides"
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by iamseer » Mon May 10, 2010 12:24 pm
gmat_perfect wrote:
A majority of railway commuters reads or listens to music while traveling - is correct

The majority of the students in this class are hard workers - is correct

The majority of students are smart.
A majority of students are smart.
The majority of physics students are smart.
A majority of physics students are smart.

In all above cases "majority of physics students" is acting as a plural subject and hence takes plural verb
some more examples:

A majority of railway commuters are listeners of sufi music.... context changed, now subject is acting as plural
The majority of railway commuters are monthly pass holders.
A majority of railway commuters drinks starbucks coffee
A majority of railway commuters is young singles

context is the key.

HTH!!
"Choose to chance the rapids and dance the tides"
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