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Pleasehelp Posted 17 years ago
Grammar

Public

Why is it the public has spoken?

What determines public singular? Isn't the public supposed to be a mass of people or a community? So wouldn't that be plural...
  

Top answer

Pleasehelp: Many usage experts explain that "public" takes a singular verb in American English; a plural verb in British English. "

— Anonymous

  • Pleasehelp: Many usage experts explain that "public" takes a singular verb in American English; a plural verb in British English.
  • "
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7 Answers
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Pleasehelp: Many usage experts explain that "public" takes a singular verb in American

English; a plural verb in British English. You will also notice this with other words, such as "government."
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Yes, but you can think of public as being a group of people.

So, a group of people, two groups of people etc.
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pleasehelpWhat determines public singular?
Nothing. You can say The publlic is or the public are. The plural verb is quite common in BrE with words that are grammatically singular but refer to many people:

The audience was/were satisfied with the concert.

CB
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To repeat - in the US, it's almost always singular.
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Grammar GeekTo repeat - in the US, it's almost always singular.

Thanks y'all! See, I would've never known that if I hadn't asked...(I'm using present perfect and past perfect...and I don't even know how I did it.)
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Public could be an uncountable noun. Right?
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pleasehelpPublic could be an uncountable noun. Right?


It's funny that you asked. I neven even think about its countability. But I have always treated "public" as a singular entity. Has anyone heard of "publics" before?
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