核心问题
× A good percentage of our pilots retires early. 请问这里为什么不能用单数动词retires?
词典解答
a percentage + of + 复数名词在语法上是单数,但在概念上却表示复数意义,因此它的谓语动词要采用复数形式。这又是一个遵循“概念一致”原则的例子。
A large percentage of schoolbooks now have pictures. 现在大部分教科书都有插图。
但是, 当 a percentage of 后接单数名词时, 则动词用单数:
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What percentage of his income is paid in income tax? 他上的个人所得税占他收入的百分之几?
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What percentage of the price is profit? 利润是价格的百分之几?
至于 a ... percentage of the population, 则其谓语动词既可以使用单数, 也可以使用复数:
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A small percentage of the population is discontented. (Correcting Common Errors in English) 一小部分居民感到不满意。
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A large percentage of the population were against nuclear weapons. 反对核武器的人占人口很大百分比。