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Kenkenken9876 Posted 12 years ago
Grammar
Plural form "audiences"
The word "audience" is one of the collective nouns. And even when it is singular, it can mean 'people who listen'. When "audience" is used as a subject word of a sentence, the predicate verb takes either singular or plural form depending whether you concentrate more on the whole group as one unit or the individuals.
So, I think both of the below sentences are correct. Maybe Sentence 1 is more British and Sentence 2 American.
1) Audience want to know what you can do for them.
2) Audience wants to know what you can do for me.
However, I would like you to listen to the below video:
http://ja.englishcentral.com/video/19513/presentation-rule-no-1-your-audience-is-king
In Line 9/13, it says,
"AudienceS want to know what you can do for them,..."
Here does "audiences" take the plural form as a plural of "an audience = a person who listens"?
Or does it mean "different groups of audience at different places"??
Or is it simply the same as "Audience want(s) to know...."??
I am asking this because I have never heard "an audience" meaning "one person who listens".
Thank you.
So, I think both of the below sentences are correct. Maybe Sentence 1 is more British and Sentence 2 American.
1) Audience want to know what you can do for them.
2) Audience wants to know what you can do for me.
However, I would like you to listen to the below video:
http://ja.englishcentral.com/video/19513/presentation-rule-no-1-your-audience-is-king
In Line 9/13, it says,
"AudienceS want to know what you can do for them,..."
Here does "audiences" take the plural form as a plural of "an audience = a person who listens"?
Or does it mean "different groups of audience at different places"??
Or is it simply the same as "Audience want(s) to know...."??
I am asking this because I have never heard "an audience" meaning "one person who listens".
Thank you.
Top answer
2) Audience wants to know what you can do for me. You need an article or other determiner in front of "audience" (as it is a singular countable noun). Changing "them" to "me" changes the meaning completely.
- 2) Audience wants to know what you can do for me.
- You need an article or other determiner in front of "audience" (as it is a singular countable noun).
- Changing "them" to "me" changes the meaning completely.
- The two possibilities are: 1) The audience want to know what you can do for them .
- 2) The audience wants to know what you can do for it .
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3 Answers
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kenkenken9876Maybe Sentence 1 is more British and Sentence 2 American.1) Audience want to know what you can do for them.2) Audience wants to know what you can do for me.You need an article or other determiner in front of "audience" (as it is a singular countable noun). Changing "them" to "me" changes the meaning completely. The two possibilities are:
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GPYIt is not impossible for it to mean one person if only one is present (E.g. you could say "I had an audience of one").It is also used in the context of a very formal reception that has a lot of associated ritual bowing and kissing of hands:
eg. I had an audience with the Pope.
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