英検1級道場 2015-1英検1級試験問題研究 パス単は有効です
熱心な元受講者から下記の情報提供がありました
英文法では、下記が正しい
Three-fourths of the earth is water.
Three-fourths of the students are from abroad.
これに関する一般原則とサンプルセンテンスを手元の英文法書とAIを使って調べたら、下記の情報を得ました
英文法は奥が深いですね
■Explanation:
Three-fourths of the earth is water.
In this sentence, "the earth" refers to a single entity, and "water" is an uncountable noun. Uncountable nouns are treated as singular, so the singular verb is is used.
地球は単体として扱われ、水は不可算名刺、不可算名詞は単数扱い→動詞は is
Three-fourths of the students are from abroad.
Here, "students" is a plural noun. Fractions followed by a plural noun take a plural verb, so the verb are is used.
studentsは複数なのでそのあとにくる動詞は複数の are
例：4人の学生の3/4が外国人、すなわち4人の学生の内3人が外国人→動詞は複数 are
■General Rule:
When a fraction is used as the subject, the verb must agree with the noun that comes after it:
If the noun is singular or uncountable → use a singular verb.
名詞が単数もしくは不可算 → 単数の動詞を使う
If the noun is plural → use a plural verb.
名詞が複数 → 複数の動詞を使う
■More information:
Singular (uncountable noun): Three-fourths of the cake has been eaten.
（その）ケーキの3/4は単数、不可算 → has（単数）
Plural noun: Three-fourths of the books are missing.
本（複数）の3/4（例えば4冊の本の3/4、すなわち3冊）が無くなっている → are（複数）
■5 Sample Sentences:
Two-thirds of the city is covered in snow.
One-half of the rice has been cooked.
One-third of the students are absent today.
Three-fifths of the money was spent on food.
One-fourth of the employees are working remotely.
