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generis
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In the United States, some 55 percent of the labor force 16 Oct 2019, 12:10
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exc4libur
11manish11
In the United States, some 55 percent of the labor force is employed by companies with fewer than 100 workers.

E ends abruptly with “with”

Posted from my mobile device

Hey, I think (E) has a typo.
generis could you help?
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exc4libur , thanks for the tag.

Yes, (E) was missing the word "fewer."

Whether (E) were to say "fewer" or "less" would not make a difference.

Labor force is uncountable. It is singular. Option (E) incorrectly uses labor force who are

In addition, no reason exists to use "there are." None.

I will post OEs soon.
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In the United States, some 55 percent of the labor force Updated on: 16 Oct 2019, 23:17
Originally posted by zhanbo on 16 Oct 2019, 15:59.
Last edited by zhanbo on 16 Oct 2019, 23:17, edited 1 time in total.
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My answer is (A). It took me 34 seconds.

It is all right to use either 'some 55 percent" or "about 55 percent" to indicate that "55 percent" is not the exact number.

(B) Because "labor force" is treated as singular noun, "are employed" is incorrect. In addition, "less than 100 workers" should be "fewer than 100 workers."
(C) "are employed" is incorrect.
(D) "less than 100 workers" should be "fewer than 100 workers."
(E) "who are employed" should be "who is employed". Besides, the use of "there be" (called "expletive sentence" in some books) is not as direct as other options.
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In the United States, some 55 percent of the labor force 16 Oct 2019, 18:46
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I have posted the official explanation HERE
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In the United States, some 55 percent of the labor force 16 Oct 2019, 18:52
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gvij2017
No option seems correct to me.

55% of labor force = need singular verb= sentences containing "is" are ahead in race. A and D are contender.

100 workers= countable noun. Fewer is correct. A is on top.

But I couldn't understood the the use of SOME before 55% of labor force.

How some is correct here!
Explanation will be appreciated.
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gvij2017 , as I explained in the OE, "some" can be an adverb that means "about" or "approximately."

I posted three definitions. All have example sentences. The third source has usage notes.
I can understand why you thought some was incorrect, but please, do read the OE.

(I'm not picking on you. I am not sure whether most people who post in Butler read the OEs. People who come afterwards read the OE. I can tell from kudos.)

I hope the OE helps. If not, ask another question, tag me, and I will be happy to try to help. :)
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In the United States, some 55 percent of the labor force 16 Oct 2019, 19:11
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Raxit85
Imo. A.

This question tests pure grammar rules, such as usage of some as subject or usage of quantitative adjective, fewer and SVA.

In the United States, some 55 percent of the labor force is employed by companies with fewer than 100 workers.

A) some 55 percent of the labor force is employed by companies with fewer - Indefinite pronouns such as “some”, “any”, “none”, “all” and “most” (SANAM) may be singular or
plural depending what they refer to. Let me explain more with following examples,
- Some of the food is cold.
- Some of the vegetables are cold.
The similar rule is applied to percent. It takes a plural verb when followed by of and a plural noun, and takes a singular verb when followed by of and a singular noun. e.g. 80 percent of the cookies were eaten, but only 20 percent of the milk was drunk.
When adjectives of quantity (like much, more, little, less, lots, etc.) are used as subjects, they take a singular verb. - Dear generis, correct me if this is wrong as i read this rule somewhere long ago.
100 workers are countable nouns hence, fewer than is required rather than less, which is to be used for uncountable nouns. So, hold it.

B) some 55 percent of the labor force are employed by companies with less - SVA error and quantified comparative adjective error (as mentioned above).

C) about 55 percent of the labor force are employed by companies with fewer - SVA error.

D) about 55 percent of the labor force is employed by companies who have less - Relative pronoun reference error, who is used for the human beings, so pronoun error and quantified comparative adjective error

E) there are 55 percent of the labor force who are employed by companies with
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- Relative pronoun reference error and SVA error, usage of who is incorrect. Here, who refers to LF ,which is singular and the verb is plural. Subject should never be in the prepositional structure. Hence, sentence structure error.[/quote]
Raxit85 , as usual, you wrote a thoughtful answer.

You are spot on about "percent of" and whether it is singular or plural.
I like the example sentence you wrote: 80 percent of the cookies were eaten, but only 20 percent of the milk was drunk.

Quote:
When adjectives of quantity (like much, more, little, less, lots, etc.) are used as subjects, they take a singular verb. [/color] - Dear generis, correct me if this is wrong as i read this rule somewhere long ago.
I am a little confused here.
Do you mean to include "some" as an adjective of quantity?

You are correct about some in general, although the reasoning does not apply in this case.
(Some means "approximately.")

I'm not sure I understand your assertion about adjectives of quantity.

Not standalone, usage varies:
Much of the food was spoiled.
More boys than girls are color blind.

I don't think you are talking about usage in the way that the sentences above use those words.

Standalone? Usage varies:

-- Very little about how black holes behave has been proven.
-- Aspirants are understandably nervous sometimes; most are bound to need encouragement here and there.
-- Less is more. (Idiom.)

I am slightly confused. :)
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In the United States, some 55 percent of the labor force 16 Oct 2019, 20:23
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generis
Raxit85
Imo. A.

This question tests pure grammar rules, such as usage of some as subject or usage of quantitative adjective, fewer and SVA.

In the United States, some 55 percent of the labor force is employed by companies with fewer than 100 workers.

A) some 55 percent of the labor force is employed by companies with fewer - Indefinite pronouns such as “some”, “any”, “none”, “all” and “most” (SANAM) may be singular or
plural depending what they refer to. Let me explain more with following examples,
- Some of the food is cold.
- Some of the vegetables are cold.
The similar rule is applied to percent. It takes a plural verb when followed by of and a plural noun, and takes a singular verb when followed by of and a singular noun. e.g. 80 percent of the cookies were eaten, but only 20 percent of the milk was drunk.
When adjectives of quantity (like much, more, little, less, lots, etc.) are used as subjects, they take a singular verb. - Dear generis, correct me if this is wrong as i read this rule somewhere long ago.
100 workers are countable nouns hence, fewer than is required rather than less, which is to be used for uncountable nouns. So, hold it.

B) some 55 percent of the labor force are employed by companies with less - SVA error and quantified comparative adjective error (as mentioned above).

C) about 55 percent of the labor force are employed by companies with fewer - SVA error.

D) about 55 percent of the labor force is employed by companies who have less - Relative pronoun reference error, who is used for the human beings, so pronoun error and quantified comparative adjective error

E) there are 55 percent of the labor force who are employed by companies with
- Relative pronoun reference error and SVA error, usage of who is incorrect. Here, who refers to LF ,which is singular and the verb is plural. Subject should never be in the prepositional structure. Hence, sentence structure error.
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Raxit85 , as usual, you wrote a thoughtful answer.

You are spot on about "percent of" and whether it is singular or plural.
I like the example sentence you wrote: 80 percent of the cookies were eaten, but only 20 percent of the milk was drunk.

Quote:
When adjectives of quantity (like much, more, little, less, lots, etc.) are used as subjects, they take a singular verb. [/color] - Dear generis, correct me if this is wrong as i read this rule somewhere long ago.
Show more
I am a little confused here.
Do you mean to include "some" as an adjective of quantity?

You are correct about some in general, although the reasoning does not apply in this case.
(Some means "approximately.")

I'm not sure I understand your assertion about adjectives of quantity.

Not standalone, usage varies:
Much of the food was spoiled.
More boys than girls are color blind.

I don't think you are talking about usage in the way that the sentences above use those words.

Standalone? Usage varies:

-- Very little about how black holes behave has been proven.
-- Aspirants are understandably nervous sometimes; most are bound to need encouragement here and there.
-- Less is more. (Idiom.)

I am slightly confused. :)[/quote]

Hi, generis,
Thanks for comprehensive explanation for the question as usual. :)
I read the below rule somewhere in past & that strikes while solving the question.
When adjectives of quantity (like much, more, little, less, lots, etc.) are used as subjects, they take a singular verb. [/color].
E.g. Much has already been done.
Little has been done so far.

I extended the application of the same rule for 'some' also. But, I was not sure about it's application. So, I wanted to confirm the same.

Thanks & regards,
Raxit.
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In the United States, some 55 percent of the labor force 14 Aug 2022, 04:39
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