Language/French/Grammar/Subject-verb-agreement-—-Verb-agreement-with-fractions
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Subject-verb agreement — Verb agreement with fractions
When fractions are subjects and have plural complements, whether they are present or implied, verbs normally agree with those complements:
- La moitié (des gens) se sont exprimés
Half (of the people) made their views known
- Un tiers (de ceux qui étaient présents) se sont exprimés
A third (of those present) made their views known
But when the fraction has a singular complement, whether present or implied, verbs agree with the fraction:
- La moitié (de la population) s'est exprimée
Half (the population) made their view known
- Un tiers (de la maison) a été détruit
A third (of the house) was destroyed
NB: les deux tiers and percentages usually agree with a plural verb:
- Les deux tiers des électeurs ont voté pour la droite
Two-thirds of the electorate voted for the right
- 66% ont voté pour la droite
66% voted for the right