Fill each gap with the most appropriate option from the list provided.
Three quarters of the people in the village ....... killed but only half of their huts ......... affected?
were / were
was / was
were/ was
was /were
Explanation
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Answer: A. were / were
See reason/explanation below: From CONCORD RULES
12. Concord of Fraction and percentages. When a word that denotes fraction and percentage is used with the subject of a sentence, it can take either singular or plural verbs depending on what comes after it. If a singular noun comes after it, it takes a singular verb and if a plural noun comes after it, it takes a plural verb. E.g. Three-quarters of the hostel has been painted and three quarters of the students have moved in. Fifty percent of the boys have arrived and fifty percent of the food has been eaten. Ninety percent of dogs like bones etc.
So therefore,
"Three quarters" of the "people" in the village ....were....
but
only "half" of their "huts" ....were.... affected
Three quarter of a space takes a singular verb while three quarter of people takes a plural verb e.g
Three quarter of the church WAS painted but only three quarter of the members WERE present during the work
all you guys been explaining bull poo the reason why it is like that it is not because of the fraction rule if not "village" would carry was as the correct answer but it was because of the question mark it shows a reporter asking a question so therefore it will carry plural verbs disregarding the percentage rule
