Usage

[shoaib 1]

Hi dear Teachers,
What is difference between "the majority of people" and "a majority of people" in terms of singular and plural?


THANKS

 

[lauralie2]

Hi dear Teachers,
What is difference between "the majority of people" and "a majority of people" in terms of singular and plural?

There's this advice here, but you'll need a PhD in Rhetoric to apply the rules, and then there's this quick 'n easy guide from MT State University:

The words "number," "variety" and "majority" can be singular or plural, depending on whether they're preceded by "a" or "the."

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• A number are, but the number is.
• A variety are, but the variety is.
• A majority are, but the majority is.

But it doesn't tell us why "a majority" always takes a plural verb, and that bugs me. I'd like to know. And, finally, there's this very insightful, yet not very helpful article.