English for Today by Ganiu Abisoye Bamgbose (Dr GAB)
CONCORD
Seventy percent of the job ~were~ done by me (nonstandard).
Seventy percent of the job *was* done by me (standard).
When percentage or fraction is used in the subject position of a sentence, the form of the noun thay follows (whether singular or plural) determines the verb:
Two-third of the voters *are* on his part (plural noun). ✅
Two-third of the business *is* for him (singular noun). ✅
One of the boys ~come~ here regularly (nonstandard).
One of the boys *comes* here regularly (standard).
When “one of”, “none of” and “each of” is used in the subject position, the phrase must be followed by a plural noun or pronoun and a singular verb:
Each of the *departments has* a lot to do. ✅
GAB
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