Which is proper in this case, 'has' or 'have'

Question

Say the name of a store is "99 cent dollar stores", in referring an item in that store, would one say "99cent dollar stores HAS great shampoo, it's only a dollar" or "99 cent stores HAVE great shampoo"

i believe that it is the former.

Chameleon · Accepted Answer

If the name of the store is literally "99 Cent Dollar Stores" then you are correct. However, I think it is unlikely that a store would have a name ending in "stores". If the store is named "99 Cent Dollar Store", then the second version would be correct.

Bottom line: the verb needs to match the subject.

Incidentally, the names of stores and companies are typically capitalized because they are proper names, just like people.

One more thing:

"99 Cent Dollar Stores has great shampoo.* It's only a dollar."

You need a period where I put the star, not a comma. "It's only a dollar," is a complete thought and should be another sentence.

Raindog · Answer

could i get a second opinion on this?

i agree with the answer given, but i am trying to resolve a stupid argument with a friend who believes otherwise.

Rommie · Answer

Traditionally, plural proper nouns exist, but are always preceded by the word "The". For example, "The Beatles", "The Virgin Islands", and so on. Such phrases are generally regarded as plural.

In your case, you just have a very stupidly named store. If they'd have started their name with "The", you wouldn't have even needed to ask the question.

But, even without the "The", it still looks plural to me, so I'd go with "99 cent stores HAVE ...", just as I'd go with "The Beatles HAVE ..."

Rommie

Which is proper in this case, 'has' or 'have'

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