"'is' or 'are' "

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Ruby (0 posts) Nov-18-02, 01:33 PM (GMT) "'is' or 'are' " Hi! I need some help with (what is most probably a commom rule in written english that I've never heard of) the usage of 'is' and 'are' with nouns such as 'family', 'people', etc... Is it correct to say: 'My family is at the seaside.' or 'my family are at the seaside.' ? Our teacher did explain it to us, but her answer was confusing... thank you, Ruby   Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top

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Subject     Author     Message Date     ID    RE: 'is' or 'are' David (Guest) Apr-12-03 1    RE: 'is' or 'are' Barbara (Guest) Mar-25-04 2  RE: 'is' or 'are' minerva Apr-02-04 3    RE: 'is' or 'are' Stella (Guest) Apr-11-04 4

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David (Guest) (14 posts) Apr-12-03, 08:53 AM (GMT) 1. "RE: 'is' or 'are' " Since family is a singular noun (with a collective meaning, but singular after all), the verb has to be in singular. So "is" is the correct answer.   Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top

Barbara (Guest) (47 posts) Mar-25-04, 03:29 PM (GMT) 2. "RE: 'is' or 'are' " The problem is trying to explain 'the police are...' but 'the army is...' I think the only rule in English is that, until you learn 4 or 5 exceptions, you don't fully know the rule!! Good luck! Barbara   Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top

minerva (133 posts) Apr-02-04, 08:29 AM (GMT) 3. "RE: 'is' or 'are' " Both are correct but whereas 'is' focuses on the collective noun as a group, 'are' focuses on the noun as consisting of several individuals.   Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top

Stella (Guest) (46 posts) Apr-11-04, 10:51 PM (GMT) 4. "RE: 'is' or 'are' " Minerva is right! Mind you!!!!! The same happens with "team" But....and there is always a but...people and police are always plural...so...ARE Besides, I also agree with the one who wrote about exceptions. We have to memorize " the exception to the rule" and do believe me there is always one! Cheers   Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top

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