Spanish Phrase
La mayoría de los invitados ya contestó.
Meaning
It means “Most of the guests have already answered.” The sentence emphasizes that the majority group, considered as a single unit, has completed the action of answering.
When to use
Use this phrase when you want to inform someone that the bulk of the guests have responded, for example after sending out an RSVP or a questionnaire.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Lamayoríadelosinvitadosyacontestó
La mayoría (singular)
The noun "mayoría" is grammatically singular, so the verb normally agrees in singular form (e.g., contestó, ha contestado).
Concordancia con el complemento
When "mayoría" is followed by "de + plural", you can also use a plural verb if you want to emphasize the plurality of the group.
Ya (already)
"Ya" is an adverb placed before the verb to indicate that the action has happened earlier than expected.
Preterite vs. Present Perfect
Use the preterite (contestó/contestaron) for a completed action at a specific time; use the present perfect (ha contestado/han contestado) for a recent action with relevance to the present.
🗨In Conversation
¿Ya recibimos respuestas de los invitados?
Did we already receive responses from the guests?
Sí, la mayoría de los invitados ya contestó.
Yes, most of the guests have already answered.
✕Common Mistakes
La mayoría de los invitados ya contestó.
Using the singular verb can sound overly formal; many learners prefer the plural "contestaron" to match the plural noun "invitados".
La mayoría de los invitados ya ha contestó.
If you want to emphasize a recent action with present relevance, use the present perfect "ha contestado" or "han contestado".
↔Alternatives
La mayoría de los invitados ya contestaron.
Most of the guests have already answered.
La mayoría de los invitados ya ha contestado.
Most of the guests have already answered.
Ya han contestado la mayoría de los invitados.
The majority of the guests have already answered.
Cultural Tip
In Spanish-speaking cultures, it’s common to use "la mayoría" to refer to a group as a single entity, especially in formal or written contexts. However, in everyday conversation many speakers prefer the plural verb (contestaron) to stress the individuals within the group. Both are correct; choose the form that matches the register you want.