was or were - what is the correct usage?

The efficiency of the companies were evaluated based on operating profit per employee (weightage-60 percent), growth in operating profit (20 percent) and balance sheet size (20 percent).

asked Jun 26, 2019 at 12:37 31 2 2 bronze badges The efficiency is the subject of the sentence. Commented Jun 26, 2019 at 12:59 Efficiency was, and efficiencies were. Commented Jun 26, 2019 at 18:32

1 Answer 1

The efficiency of the companies were evaluated based on operating profit per employee (weightage-60 percent), growth in operating profit (20 percent) and balance sheet size (20 percent).

The efficiency of the companies was evaluated based on operating profit per employee (weightage-60 percent), growth in operating profit (20 percent) and balance sheet size (20 percent).

The verb pertains to the subject 'efficiency', and not the 'companies'.