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Anonymous Posted 16 years ago
Grammar
Collective nouns
Is
The family are...
acceptable?
The family is
is more frequently used in US English, but
The family are joining the class on the field trip seems ok, indicating that individual members of the family are each coming along.
Thank you.
The family are...
acceptable?
The family is
is more frequently used in US English, but
The family are joining the class on the field trip seems ok, indicating that individual members of the family are each coming along.
Thank you.
Top answer
Yes, it is often the speaker's choice-- how s/he happens to be thinking of the family (as a single unit or as several related people). You must only watch cases in which it seems odd: ( X ) The family is always fighting over the TV remote control.
- Yes, it is often the speaker's choice-- how s/he happens to be thinking of the family (as a single unit or as several related people).
- You must only watch cases in which it seems odd: ( X ) The family is always fighting over the TV remote control.
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2 Answers
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Yes, it is often the speaker's choice-- how s/he happens to be thinking of the family (as a single unit or as several related people). You must only watch cases in which it seems odd: (X) The family is always fighting over the TV remote control.
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I think family are is more common in BrE than AmE. I remember reading in a British grammar book that the singular verb must be used when the reference is to lineage: My family has lived in this part of England for centuries. Have lived would sound wrong to my ear.
A plural verb with singular nouns such as groups of people, teams and so forth became common in BrE abo
A plural verb with singular nouns such as groups of people, teams and so forth became common in BrE abo
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