have vs has

Question

The world as a whole have indeed warmed over the past 100 years.Does "have" should be "has" in this sentence?

Maisy · Accepted Answer

Masanori TakaokaThe world as a whole have indeed warmed over the past 100 years.Does "have" should be "has" in this sentence?

As a whole, which means all parts or aspects considered or altogether, is an idiom.
So I think we should use "have" instead of "has"

Anonymous · Answer

Masanori Takaoka The world as a whole has indeed warmed over the past 100 years.Does
"have" should be "has" in this sentence? not correct

Should "have" be 'has' in this sentence? correct

GPY · Answer

MaisySo I think we should use "have" instead of "has"

This is not correct. It should be "The world as a whole has indeed warmed over the past 100 years."

Maisy · Answer

GPY MaisySo I think we should use "have" instead of "has"This is not correct. It should be "The world as a whole has indeed warmed over the past 100 years."

Do you mean "as a whole" is regarded as a single unit?

Maisy · Answer

Masanori Takaoka The world as a whole have indeed warmed over the past 100 years.Does "have" should be "has" in this sentence?

Oh so sorry, we use "as a whole" when considerd as a http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/grouproup and not in http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/partarts.
An e.g in Cambridge dictionary: The population as a whole is getting healthier.
So "has" is correct.

GPY · Answer

MaisyDo you mean "as a whole" is regarded as a single unit?

It is the preceding noun -- in this case "the world" -- that determines the number, not the phrase "as a whole".

"as a whole" is not routinely used with plural nouns, but in some cases it might, and then the plural verb would be used. For example, "the people as a whole are a force to reckon with".

Incidentally, many Google hits for "plural noun + as a whole" seem to be errors for "on the whole".

have vs has

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