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Anonymous Posted 14 years ago
Grammar
There [is/are] always a couple of fifties..?
Hi there,
In the sentence "there [x] always a couple of fifties [...]", would you say "is" or "are" in place of [x]?
These two sources:
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/couple
and
http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/collective-nouns.aspx
both seem to suggest that, basically, it depends on "whether you consider the collective noun to be a single unit or to be made up of individuals."
Is that correct? And if so, does it mean that whether you use "is" or "are" in the above sentence makes no difference?
In the sentence "there [x] always a couple of fifties [...]", would you say "is" or "are" in place of [x]?
These two sources:
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/couple
and
http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/collective-nouns.aspx
both seem to suggest that, basically, it depends on "whether you consider the collective noun to be a single unit or to be made up of individuals."
Is that correct? And if so, does it mean that whether you use "is" or "are" in the above sentence makes no difference?
Top answer
Hi, I agree with your links. It makes no real difference, except that it shows how the speaker is thinking. Other examples include the words team / government / company.
- Hi, I agree with your links.
- It makes no real difference, except that it shows how the speaker is thinking.
- Other examples include the words team / government / company.
- Clive
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1 Answers
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Hi,
I agree with your links.
It makes no real difference, except that it shows how the speaker is thinking.
Other examples include the words team / government / company.
Clive
I agree with your links.
It makes no real difference, except that it shows how the speaker is thinking.
Other examples include the words team / government / company.
Clive
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