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Cup cake Posted 10 years ago
Grammar

Subject verb agreement

Hi Everyone,

I know I've brought this up a couple of times before, but I've just read the following sentence in the news:

'A team of rangers from Townsville has joined the search, which resumed at first light.'

While I know that team = has; I still can't help but feel jolted when reading it, because the REAL subject is - rangers - thus, verb should be have.

Is it possible that both has and have could be used?

Thanks
CC.. Emotion: it wasnt me
  

Top answer

The head noun of the subject is "team", so the verb should agree with "team", which is of course grammatically singular. However, in BrE people often use a plural verb with grammatically singular nouns like "team" that seem plural in meaning. This is called "notional agreement".

— GPY

  • The head noun of the subject is "team", so the verb should agree with "team", which is of course grammatically singular.
  • However, in BrE people often use a plural verb with grammatically singular nouns like "team" that seem plural in meaning.
  • This is called "notional agreement".
  • I understand that this is done less in AmE.
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2 Answers
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The head noun of the subject is "team", so the verb should agree with "team", which is of course grammatically singular. However, in BrE people often use a plural verb with grammatically singular nouns like "team" that seem plural in meaning. This is called "notional agreement". I understand that this is done less in AmE.
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Thanks GPY.

Yes, I knew I'd get this answer, but I haven't heard the term - notional agreement - so, thank you for this bit of 'new' information.

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