1. Agreement: individuals, a mass or a group as a whole
When reporting on individual members, plural agreement is natural: the majority of the volunteers arrive early. For part of an uncountable mass or a single whole, singular agreement is normally required: a proportion of the funding is available.
Majority, minority and proportion can also name a group or share as a single whole. Singular agreement is then possible even when a plural noun follows of. This is not always an error; meaning and usage conventions influence the choice.
individual members after of → usually plural; uncountable mass → usually singular; group or share as a whole → singular is possible
The majority of the volunteers arrive early for the event.
The majority of the volunteers arrive early for the event.
The majority is presented as individual volunteers here, making arrive without -s natural. A different, collective reading may allow singular agreement.
A minority of the paperwork remains unsigned.
A minority of the paperwork remains unsigned.
Paperwork is uncountable, so use remains with -s.
A significant proportion of the invoices were paid late this quarter.
A significant proportion of the invoices were paid late this quarter.
Were is natural in this statement about individual invoices. Agreement with proportion as a single share is possible under another reading.
2. Uncountability is not the only reason for a singular verb
Uncountable nouns such as evidence, funding, equipment, feedback and traffic are the most common reason for singular agreement, but not the only one. An ordinary countable noun used in the singular, such as the budget, the report, the building or one specific study, also gives singular agreement because it names one item rather than several.
The number of the noun phrase after of is an important clue, not a universal mechanical law. Distinguish part of one budget, individual people and a numerical quantity treated as a whole.
part of one whole or an uncountable mass → normally singular; actions of individual group members → often plural
The majority of the annual budget is spent on salaries.
The majority of the annual budget is spent on salaries.
Budget is one specific countable noun in the singular here, not an uncountable noun. The verb is nevertheless singular because budget is singular.
A large proportion of the final report addresses future risks.
A large proportion of the final report addresses future risks.
Report is countable but singular here, referring to one particular report, so use addresses with -s.
3. The nearest noun is not always the head
Modifiers can separate the head noun of the phrase after of from the verb. In the changes proposed by the director, the head is changes, while director belongs to a different construction. First identify what you are making a statement about, then choose the appropriate agreement.
A practical check: mentally remove the intervening modifier and see whether the sentence still makes sense with the head noun immediately before the verb.
A large proportion of the changes proposed by the new director have already been implemented.
A large proportion of the changes proposed by the new director have already been implemented.
The head noun is plural changes; director in the intervening modifier does not determine the verb form.
The majority of the machinery in these factories needs urgent replacement.
The majority of the machinery in these factories needs urgent replacement.
The head noun is uncountable, singular machinery; factories merely specifies the location.
4. The meanings of majority, minority and proportion
Majority means the larger part, minority the smaller part, and proportion a share. None is inherently a positive or negative evaluation: a majority opposed the plan may report an outcome the speaker dislikes. Whether the result counts as success depends on what the majority or minority actually did.
Proportion is the most neutral: it names a share without saying whether it is large or small. Formal writing therefore often adds a size adjective: a large/small/significant proportion of.
A minority of the shareholders opposed the merger, while the majority approved it.
A minority of the shareholders opposed the merger, while the majority approved it.
Minority and majority logically complement each other within the same group here.
Only a small proportion of the budget goes towards marketing.
Only a small proportion of the budget goes towards marketing.
Proportion itself is neutral; small specifies the size.
5. Majority and minority without an of-phrase
Without of, majority and minority can still take singular or plural agreement. The singular presents the group as a whole; the plural, especially in British English, can emphasise its members: the majority support it.
Context must make the relevant group clear. The absence of of does not itself require singular agreement.
the majority supports / support: the group as a whole or its members; consider context and the variety of English
The proposal was announced yesterday. The majority now supports it.
The proposal was announced yesterday. The majority now supports it.
Supports presents the majority as a group; support is also possible, especially when focusing on individuals.
A minority still disagrees, though their objections are noted.
A minority still disagrees, though their objections are noted.
Disagrees is a possible collective agreement. Plural disagree is also used; their refers to the group’s members.
6. Do not confuse these with related constructions
Each of normally takes singular agreement. Formal usage often also favours the singular with either of and neither of, but plural agreement occurs depending on meaning, variety of English and register.
A number of meaning “several” or “many” normally takes a plural verb; the number of names the quantity itself and normally takes a singular verb. The reading matters, not just the article: a certain number can name a required quantity as a single measure.
With majority/minority/proportion, consider both the noun phrase after of and how the share is presented. Do not automatically transfer the agreement patterns of a number of or each of.
Neither of the two options is affordable, though a majority of the options remain untested.
Neither of the two options is affordable, though a majority of the options remain untested.
Is follows the formal pattern with neither; remain presents individual options. The context needs to distinguish the selected pair from the overall set of options.
A number of the reports were incomplete, but the majority of the reports were accurate.
A number of the reports were incomplete, but the majority of the reports were accurate.
A number of means several reports here, while majority of presents the majority as individual reports, so both verbs are were. This does not rule out other numerical or collective readings.
7. Formal register and modifiers of size
Formal, academic and business writing often modifies majority, minority and proportion with size adjectives: an overwhelming/a substantial/a significant majority, a small/tiny/negligible minority, a large/small proportion. These do not change the agreement principle; they make the meaning more precise.
The definite article in the majority of usually suggests a specific group already known to the reader. The indefinite article in a majority of more often introduces a statement for the first time or gives it a slightly more general presentation.
An overwhelming majority of the shareholders are in favour of the takeover.
An overwhelming majority of the shareholders are in favour of the takeover.
Overwhelming strengthens majority; are agrees with plural shareholders.
A negligible minority of the responses were left blank.
A negligible minority of the responses were left blank.
Negligible specifies how small the minority is; were agrees with plural responses.
Common mistakes
Incorrect:The majority of the evidence support the theory.
Correct:The majority of the evidence supports the theory.
Evidence is uncountable, so use singular supports, not support.
Incorrect:A minority of the delegates were absently from the vote.
Correct:A minority of the delegates were absent from the vote.
The adjective absent is required after were here. Were emphasises individual delegates; was should not automatically be rejected under a different collective reading.
Incorrect:A large proportion of the machinery are outdated.
Correct:A large proportion of the machinery is outdated.
Machinery is uncountable, so this phrase requires singular agreement: is.
Incorrect:The majority of the reforms has remain unpopular.
Correct:The majority of the reforms have remained unpopular.
This reading concerns individual reforms, so have is natural; the past participle remained is then required.
Incorrect:The majority insists on decide quickly.
Correct:The majority insists on deciding quickly.
After on, the verb form must be deciding. Majority itself can take insists or insist depending on the reading and the variety of English.
Incorrect:A minority of the customers are happily with the update.
Correct:A minority of the customers are happy with the update.
The adjective happy is required after are. Plural agreement is natural for individual customers; singular agreement is possible with a collective reading.
Incorrect:The majority of the funding go towards new laboratory equipment.
Correct:The majority of the funding goes towards new laboratory equipment.
Funding is uncountable, so use singular goes.
Incorrect:A proportion of the students have drop out this term.
Correct:A proportion of the students have dropped out this term.
Have requires the past participle dropped. The plural concerns individual students here; has itself is not universally incorrect with proportion.