当one in…或one out of…用作主语时,其后谓语动词通常用单数,因为真正用作主语的是one。如:
Only one in ten students has passed the examination. 只有十分之一的学生通过了考试。
One out of twelve bottles was broken. 每12个瓶子中有一个破了。
但是,在非正式文体中有时也用复数谓语。如:
Nationwide, one in five adults are illiterate. 就全国范围而言,五个成年人中有一个是文盲。