Practice
Fractions and percentages in English
A store says that 25 percent of its winter coats are on sale. To understand the offer, you need to recognize that 25 percent is one quarter. Fractions and percentages help you talk about parts of a whole in shopping, work, news, and daily life.
Say common fractions and percentages clearly, then use them with the noun and verb that match the meaning.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
Three quarters of the staff are working from home. /θriː ˈkwɔːrtərz əv ðə stæf ɑr ˈwɜrkɪŋ frəm hoʊm/
The short answer
Say one half, one third, two thirds, and three quarters for common fractions. Say a number plus percent for percentages. After of, match the verb to the thing being counted or measured.
Forty percent of the class is online today.
Why it works: Class is a singular group here, so use is.
6 more examples
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One half of the cake is left.
Half is a common name for one of two equal parts.
Not this:
Two halvesof the cake are on separate plates. What changes: Use the plural halves when you mean two separate parts. -
Two thirds of the route is through the forest.
The bottom word becomes plural because the top number is two.
Not this:
One thirdof the route is through the forest. What changes: Third stays singular after one. -
Three quarters of the report is finished.
Quarter is a common word for one of four equal parts.
Not this:
Three fourthsof the report is finished. What changes: Three fourths has the same meaning, but three quarters is more common in everyday speech. -
Fifteen percent of the water is unsafe to drink.
Water is an uncountable noun, so use the singular verb is.
Not this:
Fifteen percent of the bottles aredamaged. What changes: Bottles is plural, so use are. -
The price fell by 20 percent.
Use by to show the size of a change.
Not this:The new price is
80 percent ofthe original price. What changes: Use of to compare one amount with a whole amount. -
About 60 percent of voters support the plan.
About shows that the number is an estimate.
Not this:
Exactly 60 percentof voters support the plan. What changes: Exactly says that the number is precise.
Read the full guide
Start by identifying the whole. If it is divided into equal parts, use a fraction such as one third or three quarters. If you are counting parts out of one hundred, use a percentage. Then read the words after of before you choose the verb.
Find the whole and the part
A fraction describes equal parts of one whole. The whole may be a cake, a route, a budget, or a group of people. Before you choose words, ask what the complete thing is.
One half of the meeting was about safety.
The complete meeting is the whole. One half names one of its two equal parts.
Say common fractions
Use half for one of two equal parts and quarter for one of four equal parts. For other fractions, say the top number first and an ordinal word second. Say one third, one fifth, and one eighth.
One quarter of the seats were empty.
One quarter means the same as one fourth. Quarter is usually more natural in everyday conversation.
Which phrase means 1/3: one three or one third?
Use one third. The lower number is an ordinal word.
Pluralize the lower number when needed
When the top number is two or more, make the lower word plural. Say two thirds, four fifths, and seven eighths. This pattern helps listeners hear how many parts you mean.
Five sixths of the floor was covered.
Sixths is plural because five is more than one. Compare it with one sixth.
Choose the correct form: two fifth or two fifths?
Use two fifths because the top number is two.
Use percent for parts out of one hundred
A percentage compares an amount with one hundred. Say the number before percent. You can use a precise number or an estimate such as about 40 percent.
Eighty percent of the survey responses arrived on Friday.
Percent follows the number. Percentage is a noun for the rate itself, as in a high percentage of responses.
Choose the verb from the noun after of
A percentage or fraction at the start of a sentence does not decide the verb by itself. Look at the noun after of. Use a singular verb with a singular or uncountable noun, and use a plural verb with a plural countable noun.
Half of the equipment is new.
Equipment is uncountable, so use is. In Half of the machines are new, machines is plural, so use are.
Choose the verb: Thirty percent of the workers is or are on break?
Use are because workers is a plural noun.
Before you go
Remember this
Use half, third, quarter, and other ordinal words to say fractions. Make the bottom word plural after a number greater than one. Use percent after a number, and check the noun after of to choose a singular or plural verb.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
This lesson does not have the recordings needed for a listening test. Use the written questions in the guide to check your understanding.
Try the written questionsQuestions about "Fractions and percentages in English"
How do I say 1/2 in English?
Say one half. In many everyday situations, you can also say a half when the article fits the sentence. Half is the usual word for one of two equal parts.
One half of the cake is left.
Why do I say two thirds with an s?
After a number greater than one, the lower word in most fractions is plural. Say two thirds, three fifths, and six eighths. Keep it singular after one: one third or one fifth.
Two halves of the cake are on separate plates.
What is the difference between percent and percentage?
Use percent after a number, such as 45 percent. Use percentage as a noun when you discuss the rate or share itself, such as the percentage of sales made online.
Two thirds of the route is through the forest.
Should I use is or are after a percentage?
Look at the noun after of. Use a singular verb with a singular or uncountable noun, as in 20 percent of the budget is ready. Use a plural verb with a plural noun, as in 20 percent of the files are ready.
One third of the route is through the forest.
When do I use by with a percentage?
Use by to state the size of a change. Sales rose by 12 percent means that the increase was 12 percent. Use of when you compare one amount with a whole, as in 12 percent of sales came from new customers.
Three quarters of the report is finished.