What is the police doing?

MagdaHi everyone,
Could you help me with this sentence? Is it correct?

"What is the police doing? Can't they enforce the traffic rules?"

Thank you

What are the police doing? Can't they enforce the traffic rules?"

The verb used with 'police' is a plural one.

But "police" is also a collective noun. Can't we treat the police in the first sentence as an institution?

Although 'police' is a collective noun, a plural verb is required. For some collective nouns, there is a choice between a singular and a plural verb. For example, 'crowd' and 'family' can be used with either a singular or a plural verb.

See this thread, where I got raked over the coals for saying "police" takes the plural.

Be consistent. Use plural in both.

Grammar GeekSee this thread, where I got raked over the coals for saying "police" takes the plural.

police (noun) [often the police (plural)] - Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

police (noun) [plural

As Marius says, be consistent. You can't begin by talking about the police in the singular and then continue with "they". We consider "police" as plural because we are thinking of a certain number of police officers and not the entire institution. It's rare to see "police" in the singular unless we are saying something like "the police was founded in 1850", but even there we are more likely to sa

J LewisAs Marius says, be consistent. You can't begin by talking about the police in the singular and then continue with "they". We consider "police" as plural because we are thinking of a certain number of police officers and not the entire institution. It's rare to see "police" in the singular unless we are saying something like "the police was founded in 1850", but eve

Thank you all for your answers. I asked this queston because I read somewhere a sentence: "What is the government doing? Can't they ...." so I thaught that with police it would be the same story.

Best regards

Police, Cattle, Vermin and Clergy are always plural.