Subject-Verb Agreement Rule 12

A singular verb is used for words or phrases that express periods of time, fractions, weights, measurements, and amounts of money.

Examples:

A. Three-fourths of the cake was eaten by Hector.

B. Twenty dollars is all I ask from you.

C. Five hours is too long a time to read a short story.

Note: If a prepositional phrase with a plural object is between the subject and the verb, the verb is singular if the subject is considered as a single thought or -thing. The verb is plural if the subject is considered plural.

Examples:

A. Ten kilos of mangoes was what I bought.

B. Twenty of the witnesses to the crime are willing to testify.

Exercise 12

1. Two-thirds of the money (was, were) lost in the gambling.

2. Three-fourths of the apples (is, are) missing.

3. Nine hundred dollars (was given, were given) to him.

4. Six kilos of the fish (was, were) sold.

5. Thirty pounds (is, are) gained by my friend.

Refs

• Intensive English Book

grammar, 14-05-07 18:30, 14-05-07 19:54, Marz