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Mr. Tom Posted 7 years ago
Vocabulary

Use of 'police' as singular

Hi

I have heard the noun police being used as singular in national geographic documentaries. Could you please tell me how these sentences sound to your native ears?

The police was late.

The police knows that ...

Thanks,

Tom

PS: Any difference? I have heard the noun police being used... and I have heard the noun police used...

  

Top answer

Mr. Tom The police was late. The police knows that ...

— GPY

  • Mr.
  • Tom The police was late.
  • The police knows that ...
  • To me (BrE) these sound glaringly wrong.
  • I found a comment somewhere that treatment as singular may be possible in AmE, which I don't think I previously knew.
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2 Answers
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Mr. TomThe police was late.
The police knows that ...

To me (BrE) these sound glaringly wrong. I found a comment somewhere that treatment as singular may be possible in AmE, which I don't think I previously knew. Hopefully an AmE speaker will comment here.

Mr. TomPS: Any difference? I have heard the noun police being used...
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Mr. TomI have heard the noun police being used as singular in national geographic documentaries.

I have to suppose you heard it from non-native speakers. In fact, the singular use is a pretty good shibboleth for that. "Police" is invariably plural.

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