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About ____ of the workers in that factory are young people. A. third-fifths B. three-fifths C. three-fives D. three-fifth 我在选项 A 和选项 B 之间很难作出选择。
应当牢记分数词的构成方法:序数词代表分母,基数词代表分子。在分子为2以上的数时,序数词要用复数:
one-fifth(五分之一) three-fifths(五分之三)
one-hundredth(百分之一) three-hundredths(百分之三)
但是，二分之一是个例外，只能说 one half 或 a half，不可说 one-second。
one third/one-third
《薄冰英语语法》(开明出版社, p. 159) 把三分之一写成: a (one) third, 而张道真《实用英语语法》(外研社, p. 125) 则写成 one-third。请问哪个写法是正确的?
两个写法都是正确的。不过，中间使用连字符的情况比较多见，尤其是当分数词充当定语时。下面是两种写法的实例：
one hundredth of a second 百分之一秒
Two thirds of the country is dry or desert. 这个国家有三分之二的地方气候干燥,或是沙漠。
three-fourths of the earth's surface 地球表面的四分之三
three-fifths 五分之三
two-thirds...is/are
It was reported that two-fifths of the people at the meeting ____ famous scientists. A. were B. was C. are D. had been(上海会考95-15)
当分数词作主语时,其谓语动词是用单数,还是用复数?
当分数词与复数名词连用时,其谓语动词用复数;当分数词与单数名词(不可数名词)连用时,其谓语动词用单数。按照这个原则,上题应选A。
Two thirds of the apples were bad. 三分之二的苹果都坏了。
Two thirds of the land was uncultivated. 三分之二的土地没有耕种。
Two thirds of the area is under water. 这个地区三分之二的面积在水下。
请做下面的英语试题：
Approximately three-fourths of the earth's surface are covered with water.