Plural or Singular verbs and from or in

English as a Second Language English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
1

Dear teachers,

I have two questions about grammars.

Question 1:
The short form of 5 percents is 5%.
Should we use Singular or Plural verb when we use % instead of Percent:
A1.
How much is 5% of stock shares worth?
A2.
How much are 5% of stock shares worth?

Question 2:
I was living in Australia but I am studying in China now.
My uncle is living in New York. One day he telephoned me.
Is there any difference between these two sentences:
B1.
I recevied a phone call from Uncle David in New Yrok.
B2.
I recevied a phone call from Uncle David from New Yrok.

Please help, teachers.
Thank you so much.

Kitty.

2

Hi Kitty,

5% is singular and is regarded as a single amount. Note the spelling of ‘receive’ and ‘received’. In your first sentence ‘in New York’ means you are in New York. ‘From New York’ means that Uncle David is in New York.

Alan

3

Thank you for the quick help, Alan.
I am in China, but Uncle David is in New York.
Should I write this instead?
“I received a phone call from Uncle David from New York”

4

That’s right.

Alan