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Anonymous Posted 12 years ago
Grammar

3rd person singular on collective subjects.

I suppose the use of the 3rd person mark on subjects meaning groups is gramatically correct, but my textbooks tell me the opposite.... i.e., I would say "The investigation team has been working hard" or "A group of American investors is coming to visit the factory".
What am I missing? (in my language that would be a serious mistake)
Thanks!
  

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11 Answers
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I am unclear what your difficulty is. Could you explain further?
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The key in my textbook states that the correct answers should be "the team HAVE been working" and "the group ARE coming" Am I wrong or the key is?
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or are both correct?
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Yes you're right, English speakers nowadays tend to use the plural, as in "the group have worked hard to resolve the problem". Not strictly correct, but accepted usage.
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Just to follow up: "A group of ... are .." really grates on my ear, and I would never say it
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The use of the plural when referring to a group is common in British English, but American speakers normally use the singular.
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When you say "common" do you mean that in British english is used by rule or indistinctively? I mean, although I agree simoncornwall that it sounds weird, my CPE examiner maybe not.

Do I keep it plural in formal (british) english?
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Anonymous3rd person singular on collective subjects.
In general:

The team is ... American English.
The team are ... British English.

But opinions may differ on individual collectives, e.g., group.

It sounds like your textbook is teaching British English.

CJ
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Strictly, in British English, group nouns should take the singular verb. But often we use the plural. For everyday use this is OK, but I would use the singular in formal situations
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