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Usenet Posted 21 years ago
Usage
Hmm... singular or plural
This morning I wrote the sentence, "..because the whole family is/are such ardent Yankee fans."
So with family a collective noun and fans plural: "is" or "are"???
So with family a collective noun and fans plural: "is" or "are"???
Top answer
[/nq] "are". No question. Franke: EFL teacher & medical editor For email, replace numbers with English alphabet.
- [/nq] "are".
- No question.
- Franke: EFL teacher & medical editor For email, replace numbers with English alphabet.
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5 Answers
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(Email Removed) wrote on 15 Apr 2005:
[nq:1]This morning I wrote the sentence, "..because the whole family is/are such ardent Yankee fans." So with family a collective noun and fans plural: "is" or "are"???[/nq]
"are". No question.
Franke: EFL teacher & medical editor
For email, replace numbers with English alphabet.
[nq:1]This morning I wrote the sentence, "..because the whole family is/are such ardent Yankee fans." So with family a collective noun and fans plural: "is" or "are"???[/nq]
"are". No question.
Franke: EFL teacher & medical editor
For email, replace numbers with English alphabet.
00
[nq:2]This morning I wrote the sentence, "..because the whole family ... family a collective noun and fans plural: "is" or "are"???[/nq]
[nq:1]"are". No question.[/nq]
One could argue that 'the whole family are ... fans' is not strictly standard on its face and should be replaced by something like 'All of the members of the family are ... fans'. ;-)>
David Wright Sr.
Die Ka
[nq:1]"are". No question.[/nq]
One could argue that 'the whole family are ... fans' is not strictly standard on its face and should be replaced by something like 'All of the members of the family are ... fans'. ;-)>
David Wright Sr.
Die Ka
00
David Wright Sr. wrote on 15 Apr 2005:
[nq:2]"are". No question.[/nq]
[nq:1]One could argue that 'the whole family are ... fans' is not strictly standard on its face and should be replaced by something like 'All of the members of the family are ... fans'. ;-)>[/nq]
Certainly in AmE, but what about in BrE?
I don't see a difference between "the family are here" and "the whole fami
[nq:2]"are". No question.[/nq]
[nq:1]One could argue that 'the whole family are ... fans' is not strictly standard on its face and should be replaced by something like 'All of the members of the family are ... fans'. ;-)>[/nq]
Certainly in AmE, but what about in BrE?
I don't see a difference between "the family are here" and "the whole fami
00
[nq:2]"are". No question.[/nq]
[nq:1]One could argue that 'the whole family are ... fans' is not strictlystandard on its face and should be replaced by something like 'All of themembers of the family are ... fans'. ;-)>[/nq]
In formal writing, I probably would have written something like that but this was a "quickie" email.
[nq:1]One could argue that 'the whole family are ... fans' is not strictlystandard on its face and should be replaced by something like 'All of themembers of the family are ... fans'. ;-)>[/nq]
In formal writing, I probably would have written something like that but this was a "quickie" email.
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(snip)
[nq:1]Being an eclectic speaker and writer of the language, I make no distinction between dialects and feel comfortable with whichever is easier.[/nq]
I don't either. My post was strictly tongue-in-cheek with reference to a discussion on another thread about 'standard'. Just as a matter of information, I treat all(or most)(1) collective nouns as singular, including some of those der
[nq:1]Being an eclectic speaker and writer of the language, I make no distinction between dialects and feel comfortable with whichever is easier.[/nq]
I don't either. My post was strictly tongue-in-cheek with reference to a discussion on another thread about 'standard'. Just as a matter of information, I treat all(or most)(1) collective nouns as singular, including some of those der
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