Half of the class ................. (is/are) giving the presentation today.a.Any of the optionsb.Isc.None of the optionsd.Are

Break Down the Problem

1. We need to determine whether to use "is" or "are" in the sentence: "Half of the class ................. (is/are) giving the presentation today."

Relevant Concepts

2. In English grammar, the subject of the sentence (in this case, "Half of the class") is important for deciding whether to use a singular or plural verb. "Half" refers to a part of a singular noun (“class”), thus it generally takes a singular verb.

Analysis and Detail

3. “Half of the class” refers to a group that is acting as a single unit (the class), therefore, it would be grammatically correct to say “is.” The confusion often arises because "half" indicates a portion that could imply plurality, but since the core subject, “class,” is singular, the verb must align with that.

Verify and Summarize

4. So, "Half of the class is giving the presentation today" is correct. The other options do not fit grammatically with this construction.

Final Answer

The correct choice is (a) is.