0
Perfect Stranger Posted 13 years ago
Grammar

Grammar q no. 10 - a couple who/which/that has/have

Dear All,

I'm wondering whether we should say who or which or that, and then has or have, and then its or their in this sentence:
  • The couple who/which/that... has/have two or more kids will have to think about dividing it's/their duities in the best possible way.


Thank you!
  

Top answer

There's no Language Academy in the Anglo-Saxon world to decree what people "should say". Which sounds awful to my ear as the reference is to people. It's is a typo.

— Cool Breeze

  • There's no Language Academy in the Anglo-Saxon world to decree what people "should say".
  • Which sounds awful to my ear as the reference is to people.
  • It's is a typo.
  • Apart from that, all the options are grammatical.
  • Plural forms are very common in British English in cases like this.
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

3 Answers
0
There's no Language Academy in the Anglo-Saxon world to decree what people "should say". Which sounds awful to my ear as the reference is to people. It's is a typo. Apart from that, all the options are grammatical. Plural forms are very common in British English in cases like this.

Logic need not apply. For example, it has been common and correct English for centuries t
0
0
I agree with CB

If you're worried about such things you can often avoid them by rephrasing - A couple with two children ...
0
0

Couple is a collective noun. In American English, collective nouns tend to be treated as singular. This is not always the case in the UK. It is safe to say that, in American English, one must decide whether said couple is considered as a united entity (already wed) or not. Example: The couple are to be married on the fif

0

Related Questions