Usage of "majority" and "minority"

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

Hi,

Could you please clarify the use of verbs in sentences beginning with “majority” and “minority” for me?

  1. The majority of + plural count noun + plural verb => ok.
  2. The majority of + singular count noun/ non-count noun + singular verb => wrong.
  3. Same goes for “the minority of”

=> Are my ideas correct, and are there any other cases?

Many thanks
Nessie

2

I’d have to see some concrete sentences, but I think your rules are right.

There are some quantifiers, such as “the majority of”, “a minority of”, “a number of”, “a lot of”, etc., that are transparent for the purpose of singular/plural verb forms, so you have to use the verb form that corresponds to the noun that comes after “of”.

3

Thanks a lot, Jamie :slight_smile:

I just want to make it clear:
“A lot of” can be followed by a non-count noun, but surely “the majority of”, “a minority of” and “a number of” can’t do the same, right?
And when we say “The minority of …”, we do refer to a number greater than one, don’t we?