suffer or suffers

[new2grammar]

Upto 90% of Indian population suffer from Vitamin D deficiency.

Kindly let me know which is correct?

 

[Rover_KE]

Up to 90% of the Indian population suffer from Vitamin D deficiency.

'suffer'

 

[José Manuel Rosón Bravo]

Population is certainly a collective noun, but if I am not wrong it can take a plural or singular verb depending on the purpose of the sentence, and I have seen the word in singular form after a percentage to indicate that such percentage represents precisely a single group of population.

Why is this not the case?

Any more opinions will be much appreciated.

 

[Rover_KE]

'...up to 90%' is not a precise number.

 

[José Manuel Rosón Bravo]

Obviously. It is a percentage, and as far as I have gathered a given fraction or quantity of persons or things must be understood as a singular subject if considered as a mass or unit group, and as plural if considered as separate or individual units.

Is not that "90%" a mass or group?

I am doubting.

 

[Rover_KE]

'...up to 90%' is not a precise percentage, either.

It just means 'Most Indians suffer from....'

Somebody else may be able to explain it better.

 

[José Manuel Rosón Bravo]

Sorry, but I do not agree with that. Have a look at my reply here.

 

[Raymott]

"90%" means "90 out of 100". 90 out of 100 suffer. 'Population' is not the subject.
"One of my three brothers suffers."
"Two of my three brothers suffer."

 

[Odessa Dawn]

"90%" mean "90 out of 100".

Why mean not means, please?

​

 

[Raymott]

Why mean not means, please?

​

It was a typo. I fixed it. Thanks.

 

[José Manuel Rosón Bravo]

"90%" means "90 out of 100". 90 out of 100 suffer. 'Population' is not the subject.
"One of my three brothers suffers."
"Two of my three brothers suffer."

25% is the subject and population the object of the preposition of.

Fractions and portions can be singular or plural depending of the object of the preposition following.

In the sentence, population is the object of the preposition of. The question is that population is a collective noun and singular, although sometimes functioning as plural (for instance, when referring to all the persons inhabiting a country or region).

Collective nouns can be either singular or plural depending on the verb used by the author to refer to a singular entity or a plurality of members.

In this case, there is no such a specification, so I consider that up to 90% of Indian population suffers from Vitamin D deficiency.

 

[MikeNewYork]

25% is the subject and population the object of the preposition of.

Fractions and portions can be singular or plural depending of the object of the preposition following.

In the sentence, population is the object of the preposition of. The question is that population is a collective noun and singular, although sometimes functioning as plural (for instance, when referring to all the persons inhabiting a country or region).

Collective nouns can be either singular or plural depending on the verb used by the author to refer to a singular entity or a plurality of members.

In this case, there is no such a specification, so I consider that up to 90% of Indian population suffers from Vitamin D deficiency.

I agree with you. That fits with the rule I have always known. With portions, fractions, percentages of something, the object of the preposition determines the number of the verb. This an exception to the "don't choose verbs based on prepositional phrases" rule.

Examples:

1a. Half of the cake is missing.
1b. Half of the cakes are missing.

2a. Some of the pie was eaten.
2b. Some of the pies were eaten.

3a. Most of the beer was consumed.
3b. Most of the beers were consumed.

4a. Up to 90% of the Indian population suffers from vitamin D deficiency.
4b. Up to 90% of Indian people suffer from vitamin D deficiency.

See the rules here (specifically rule 9): Subject and Verb Agreement | Grammar Rules