Is two thirds singular or plural?

Answered by Randy McIntyre

When discussing the term “two thirds,” it is important to consider the context in which it is being used. In terms of grammar, the phrase “two thirds” is considered plural. This is because “two” is a plural number, indicating more than one, and “thirds” refers to multiple parts or portions. When we talk about “two thirds,” we are referring to two separate parts out of a whole divided into three equal parts.

For example, if we have a pizza divided into three equal slices, and we take two of those slices, we would say we have “two thirds” of the pizza. In this case, “two thirds” is plural because we are talking about multiple slices or parts.

However, it is important to note that when we are discussing a portion of a single item, that item is considered singular. For instance, if we have one cake and divide it into three equal parts, each part would be referred to as “one third” of the cake. In this case, “one third” is singular because we are talking about a single portion of the cake.

When we talk about “two thirds,” it is considered plural because we are referring to multiple parts or portions. However, when discussing a single item divided into thirds, each individual part is considered singular.