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Expert,


In gmat , the majority of patrons is considered as singular or plural.
Please suggest.
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Expert,


In gmat , the majority of patrons is considered as singular or plural.
Please suggest.

The word "majority" can be considered either a singular or a plural:

1. When used as a collective noun, the word is always singular - e.g., The majority agrees to his view.

2. When used as a number word (similar to fractions/ percentages), the word takes up the number of the associated noun:
2a. The majority of the pizza IS eaten. (Pizza singular, hence majority singular - compare with: Half of the Pizza IS eaten.)
2b. The majority of the pizza slices ARE eaten. ( Slices plural, hence majority plural - compare with: Half of the Pizza slices ARE eaten.)

Thus "majority of patrons" must be plural, because "patrons" is plural. (ref. 2b above.)
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1st split is/are patrons plural - should be plural - A,B- out
2nd split either... or... C, E - out

The answer is D
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Shoudn't the majority be single and not plural? Also in the test answer is given as E please explain how this is correct
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noboru
The majority of patrons of the local library, though enthusiastic about a new book mobile service, is unable, or either unwilling , to volunteer time to staff it.

A is unable, or either unwilling
B is either unable or unwilling
C are unable, or either unwilling
D are either unable or unwilling
E are unable or unwilling, either way


The comma after "unwilling" is not covered in the underline. Therefore, the sentence structure is -
The majority of patrons of the local library, though enthusiastic about a new book mobile service, ...... , to volunteer time to staff it.

The OA says "are either unable or unwilling", which makes the sentence inappropriate - after removing the middle modifier, the sentence, as per OA, reads -
The majority of patrons of the local library are either unable or unwilling, to volunteer time to staff it.

Therefore, the use of a comma after "unwilling" makes the sentence incorrect.

However, the sentence as per another answer choice (are unable, or either unwilling) reads -
The majority of patrons of the local library are unable, or either unwilling, to volunteer time to staff it.

Though this answer choice is not perfect, it fixes the problem in OA

Can someone please add a comment? GMATNinja

bb - This question appears in GMAT Club sectional test, hence, it is necessary to ensure the sanity of this question.
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Thanks for tagging… this is an interesting situation since we revise it in the update Discussions within the tests but then they take on their own life in the forums…. We don’t really limit them or keep track of them but maybe we should since this question has likely been revised a few times in the last few years …

You can see the latest version here:

https://gmatclub.com/forum/v03-184835.html

If you are looking for Discussions related to the GMAT Club test, I recommend following the links from within the explanations.

Thank you.

Posted from my mobile device
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bb
Thanks for tagging… this is an interesting situation since we revise it in the update Discussions within the tests but then they take on their own life in the forums…. We don’t really limit them or keep track of them but maybe we should since this question has likely been revised a few times in the last few years …

You can see the latest version here:

https://gmatclub.com/forum/v03-184835.html

If you are looking for Discussions related to the GMAT Club test, I recommend following the links from within the explanations.

Thank you.

Posted from my mobile device


Hi bb,
Thank you for your response.
However, the stated problem exists in the provided link as well. What is putting me off is the comma after "unwilling" - it is not underlined and when we consider the comma with OA, we get an incorrect sentence.
Please correct me if my understanding is incorrect.

Thanks!
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I see your point now. I agree. Crazy comma.

PS. Not sure we need a comma at all there in those answer choices in general so I will just completely delete it from the sentence. And frankly I don’t know if the other options need a comma at all either… since punctuation is not tested….

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bb
I see your point now. I agree. Crazy comma.

PS. Not sure we need a comma at all there in those answer choices in general so I will just completely delete it from the sentence. And frankly I don’t know if the other options need a comma at all either… since punctuation is not tested….

Posted from my mobile device

Absolutely! I believe that a comma is not necessary here. However, to agree with the non-underlined portion, I chose the option with a comma. :)
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bb
I see your point now. I agree. Crazy comma.

PS. Not sure we need a comma at all there in those answer choices in general so I will just completely delete it from the sentence. And frankly I don’t know if the other options need a comma at all either… since punctuation is not tested….

Posted from my mobile device

Absolutely! I believe that a comma is not necessary here. However, to agree with the non-underlined portion, I chose the option with a comma. :)

P.S. In the question, the comma is actually underlined but you can't see it :( but then in the Choices, A was not written with a comma. Not good but now it is fixed.
So got rid of both of them.
THANK YOU! :please:
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