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Mj.alawami Posted 17 years ago
Grammar

Inconsistency in number

Inconsistency in number

A verb must agree with it's antecedent

for Collective nouns:-
example
The crowd gradually forgot it's angry mood.

Question:
Why can't it be ?
The crowd gradually forgot their angry mood

Since thier is refering to a plural
  

Top answer

alawami , and welcome to English Forums. A verb must agree with its antecedent You are thinking of the crowd as one unit so you use the singular verb. If you are thinking of the crowd as many individuals, then you can use the plural verb.

— BarbaraPA

  • alawami , and welcome to English Forums.
  • A verb must agree with its antecedent You are thinking of the crowd as one unit so you use the singular verb.
  • If you are thinking of the crowd as many individuals, then you can use the plural verb.
  • Another example is audience: The audience was enthralled by the performance.
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1 Answers
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Hi, mj.alawami, and welcome to English Forums.

A verb must agree with its antecedent

You are thinking of the crowd as one unit so you use the singular verb. If you are thinking of the crowd as many individuals, then you can use the plural verb.

Another example is audience: The audience was enthralle
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