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Yellowstarstruck Posted 14 years ago
Grammar
Relative Pronouns/Collective Nouns/UK US English
Are the below acceptable in either U.S or U.K. English?
1. The Beatles is a group who is loved by many people all over the world.
2. The Beatles is a group who are loved by many people all over the world.
3. The Beatles are a group who are loved by many people all over the world.
4. The Beatles was a group who was loved by many people all over the world.
5. The Beatles was a group who were loved by many people all over the world.
6. The Beatles were a group who were loved by many people all over the world.
Can you use present tense or past tense for this example? Cheers Fulvio
1. The Beatles is a group who is loved by many people all over the world.
2. The Beatles is a group who are loved by many people all over the world.
3. The Beatles are a group who are loved by many people all over the world.
4. The Beatles was a group who was loved by many people all over the world.
5. The Beatles was a group who were loved by many people all over the world.
6. The Beatles were a group who were loved by many people all over the world.
Can you use present tense or past tense for this example? Cheers Fulvio
Top answer
Because the name of the group is so obviously plural, I find only #3 and #6 natural-sounding. Either tense is possible, but it will depend on how the Beatles are being viewed in the greater context—as a defunct group or as one that still has many CDs on the market.
- Because the name of the group is so obviously plural, I find only #3 and #6 natural-sounding.
- Either tense is possible, but it will depend on how the Beatles are being viewed in the greater context—as a defunct group or as one that still has many CDs on the market.
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2 Answers
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Because the name of the group is so obviously plural, I find only #3 and #6 natural-sounding. Either tense is possible, but it will depend on how the Beatles are being viewed in the greater context—as a defunct group or as one that still has many CDs on the market.
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I'd use past tense because two members of the group (Lennon/Harrison) are deceased, and in any case the group had been inactive for many years prior to their deaths. But if you're talking about their music today, you would probably say "these Beatles' recordings are (not were) very enjoyable
Generally with indisputable collective nouns (like "committee", "jury", "board" etc.), if
Generally with indisputable collective nouns (like "committee", "jury", "board" etc.), if
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