“Percent” is used with both singular and plural verbs.
It usually takes a plural verb when followed by “of” plus a plural noun, and takes a singular verb when followed by “of” plus a singular noun.
Examples:
It usually takes a plural verb when followed by “of” plus a plural noun, and takes a singular verb when followed by “of” plus a singular noun.
Examples:
- Sixty percent of the cookies were eaten, but only twenty percent of the milk was drunk.
- Ninety percent of the team are men. (team: a collective noun)
- Fifty-six percent of Germans, 54 percent of Americans and 52 percent of people from the United Kingdom believe that alien life capable of communication lives somewhere among the stars.
- Five percent of the people think; ten percent, think they think; and eighty-five percent would rather die than think.
