Last visit was: 19 Nov 2025, 06:04 It is currently 19 Nov 2025, 06:04
Home
GMAT
Messages
Tests
Schools
Events
Rewards
Chat
My Profile
Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Go to My Error Log Learn more
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
User avatar
x2suresh
User avatar
Joined: 07 Nov 2007
Last visit: 18 Aug 2012
Posts: 715
Own Kudos:
3,139
Given Kudos: 5
Location: New York
Posts: 715
Kudos: 3,139
Majority sub-verb doubt 18 Nov 2007, 23:11
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
A congressional majority is /are opposed to the current policy.

which is correct is or are . Please explain.



Archived Topic
Hi there,
This topic has been closed and archived due to inactivity or violation of community quality standards. No more replies are possible here.
Where to now? Join ongoing discussions on thousands of quality questions in our Verbal Questions Forum
Still interested in this question? Check out the "Best Topics" block below for a better discussion on this exact question, as well as several more related questions.
Thank you for understanding, and happy exploring!
User avatar
x2suresh
User avatar
Joined: 07 Nov 2007
Last visit: 18 Aug 2012
Posts: 715
Own Kudos:
3,139
Given Kudos: 5
Location: New York
Posts: 715
Kudos: 3,139
Majority sub-verb doubt 19 Nov 2007, 09:54
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
x2suresh
A congressional majority is /are opposed to the current policy.

which is correct is or are . Please explain.
Show more


Can anyone throw some light on this.
User avatar
bmwhype2
User avatar
Joined: 21 Jan 2007
Last visit: 08 Mar 2010
Posts: 1,338
Own Kudos:
5,433
Given Kudos: 4
Location: New York City
Posts: 1,338
Kudos: 5,433
Majority sub-verb doubt 19 Nov 2007, 10:17
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
is


majority is a group
variety is a group
group is a group
User avatar
bmwhype2
User avatar
Joined: 21 Jan 2007
Last visit: 08 Mar 2010
Posts: 1,338
Own Kudos:
5,433
Given Kudos: 4
Location: New York City
Posts: 1,338
Kudos: 5,433
Majority sub-verb doubt 19 Nov 2007, 10:17
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
in addition, it says "A congression majority..."
User avatar
Beyond700
User avatar
Joined: 26 Mar 2006
Last visit: 28 Jul 2008
Posts: 206
Own Kudos:
104
Posts: 206
Kudos: 104
Majority sub-verb doubt 19 Nov 2007, 18:49
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
x2suresh
A congressional majority is /are opposed to the current policy.

which is correct is or are . Please explain.
Show more


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
User avatar
A.Haung
User avatar
Joined: 07 Sep 2007
Last visit: 23 Mar 2008
Posts: 28
Own Kudos:
14
Posts: 28
Kudos: 14
Majority sub-verb doubt 19 Nov 2007, 20:00
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
I think it is "is" because a majority is a group
User avatar
x2suresh
User avatar
Joined: 07 Nov 2007
Last visit: 18 Aug 2012
Posts: 715
Own Kudos:
3,139
Given Kudos: 5
Location: New York
Posts: 715
Kudos: 3,139
Majority sub-verb doubt 19 Nov 2007, 22:33
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
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?
User avatar
Beyond700
User avatar
Joined: 26 Mar 2006
Last visit: 28 Jul 2008
Posts: 206
Own Kudos:
104
Posts: 206
Kudos: 104
Majority sub-verb doubt 20 Nov 2007, 07:37
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
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...
User avatar
x2suresh
User avatar
Joined: 07 Nov 2007
Last visit: 18 Aug 2012
Posts: 715
Own Kudos:
3,139
Given Kudos: 5
Location: New York
Posts: 715
Kudos: 3,139
Majority sub-verb doubt 20 Nov 2007, 12:14
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
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.
User avatar
Beyond700
User avatar
Joined: 26 Mar 2006
Last visit: 28 Jul 2008
Posts: 206
Own Kudos:
104
Posts: 206
Kudos: 104
Majority sub-verb doubt 21 Nov 2007, 06:42
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
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



Archived Topic
Hi there,
This topic has been closed and archived due to inactivity or violation of community quality standards. No more replies are possible here.
Where to now? Join ongoing discussions on thousands of quality questions in our Verbal Questions Forum
Still interested in this question? Check out the "Best Topics" block above for a better discussion on this exact question, as well as several more related questions.
Thank you for understanding, and happy exploring!
Moderators:
miag
188 posts
u1983
Current Student
710 posts
MikeScarn
Current Student
275 posts