【问】 当proportion of用作主语时，其谓语动词用单数，还是用复数?

【答】 当proportion作“部分”(part)解时，如a(the) proportion of N用作主语，其谓语动词的数决定于N(名词)的数：

1. The greater proportion of the land is still uncultivated.

大部分土地还未耕种。

2. A large proportion of my time is spent in studying.

我的大部分时间都用在学习上。

3. A large proportion of students are workers and peasants. (EG)

大部分学生是工人和农民。

当proportion作“比率”、“之比”解时，其谓语动词永远用单数：

1. The proportion of women in the total work-force has risen. (EED)

妇女在整个劳动力中所占的比率已经提高。

2. The proportion of men to women in the population has changed so that there are nowfewer women and more men. (LDCE)

人口中的男女的比例改变了，现在是女的少，男的多。

3. The proportion of boys to girls in our class is three to one.

我们班上的男生与女生之比是三比一。