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x2suresh
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Majority sub-verb doubt 18 Nov 2007, 23:11
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A congressional majority is /are opposed to the current policy.

which is correct is or are . Please explain.



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Majority sub-verb doubt 19 Nov 2007, 09:54
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x2suresh
A congressional majority is /are opposed to the current policy.

which is correct is or are . Please explain.
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Can anyone throw some light on this.
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Majority sub-verb doubt 19 Nov 2007, 10:17
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is


majority is a group
variety is a group
group is a group
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Majority sub-verb doubt 19 Nov 2007, 10:17
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in addition, it says "A congression majority..."
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Beyond700
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Majority sub-verb doubt 19 Nov 2007, 18:49
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x2suresh
A congressional majority is /are opposed to the current policy.

which is correct is or are . Please explain.
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For me,
The majority - singular
A majority - plural

Still a novice at this rule, last night I found some exceptions.

For instance..
The committee is divided on this issue.
Subject 'The committee' is singular and it still can be divided
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Majority sub-verb doubt 19 Nov 2007, 20:00
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I think it is "is" because a majority is a group
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Majority sub-verb doubt 19 Nov 2007, 22:33
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Thank you guys.

Beyond,

That rule strictly applies to
"The number of " -- singlular
"A number of " -- plural



The majority can be plural or singluar depends on the situation.


The majority of students are going to picnic.
A student majority is not participating in school election. -- is this correct sentense?


So in the same way "congressional majority" represents group and not group of things/people/ so it is singular right?
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Majority sub-verb doubt 20 Nov 2007, 07:37
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x2suresh
Thank you guys.

Beyond,

That rule strictly applies to
"The number of " -- singlular
"A number of " -- plural



The majority can be plural or singluar depends on the situation.


The majority of students are going to picnic.
A student majority is not participating in school election. -- is this correct sentense?


So in the same way "congressional majority" represents group and not group of things/people/ so it is singular right?
Show more


X2suresh

'The majority' by itself is always singular.
Her majority was five votes.
His majority has been growing by 5 percent every year.
The majority elects (not elect) the candidate it wants (not they want)

Please note as in my previous post I am not using the preposition 'of'.

When we use 'of', as done in your example it goes by the group, on whether the group is considered as a whole or as a set of people considered individually.
The majority of the voters live (not lives) in the city.
The majority of students are going to picnic.

Yep I do agree with every one that 'A majority' is singular. I couldn't imagine how it can be plural...
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Majority sub-verb doubt 20 Nov 2007, 12:14
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Beyond700
x2suresh
Thank you guys.

Beyond,

That rule strictly applies to
"The number of " -- singlular
"A number of " -- plural



The majority can be plural or singluar depends on the situation.


The majority of students are going to picnic.
A student majority is not participating in school election. -- is this correct sentense?


So in the same way "congressional majority" represents group and not group of things/people/ so it is singular right?

X2suresh

'The majority' by itself is always singular.
Her majority was five votes.
His majority has been growing by 5 percent every year.
The majority elects (not elect) the candidate it wants (not they want)

Please note as in my previous post I am not using the preposition 'of'.

When we use 'of', as done in your example it goes by the group, on whether the group is considered as a whole or as a set of people considered individually.
The majority of the voters live (not lives) in the city.
The majority of students are going to picnic.

Yep I do agree with every one that 'A majority' is singular. I couldn't imagine how it can be plural...
Show more


Thanks Beyond. Yes I agree without preposition"of" it is singular.

Does the following statements correct? If yes, what is the difference between them.

A majority of people are satisfied with their life in New York.
The majority of people are satisfied with their life in New York.
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Beyond700
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Majority sub-verb doubt 21 Nov 2007, 06:42
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x2suresh
Beyond700
x2suresh
Thank you guys.

Beyond,

That rule strictly applies to
"The number of " -- singlular
"A number of " -- plural



The majority can be plural or singluar depends on the situation.


The majority of students are going to picnic.
A student majority is not participating in school election. -- is this correct sentense?


So in the same way "congressional majority" represents group and not group of things/people/ so it is singular right?

X2suresh

'The majority' by itself is always singular.
Her majority was five votes.
His majority has been growing by 5 percent every year.
The majority elects (not elect) the candidate it wants (not they want)

Please note as in my previous post I am not using the preposition 'of'.

When we use 'of', as done in your example it goes by the group, on whether the group is considered as a whole or as a set of people considered individually.
The majority of the voters live (not lives) in the city.
The majority of students are going to picnic.

Yep I do agree with every one that 'A majority' is singular. I couldn't imagine how it can be plural...

Thanks Beyond. Yes I agree without preposition"of" it is singular.

Does the following statements correct? If yes, what is the difference between them.

A majority of people are satisfied with their life in New York.
The majority of people are satisfied with their life in New York.
Show more


X2suresh,

I couldn't find anything wrong with the statements. Both seems ok to me.

The difference - one is a definite group and the other an indefinite, ofcourse going by the article



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