Grammar question? (1 Viewer)

[broken arm]

you know compound subjects...

can they always be treated as either singular or plural?

e.g. a set of tricks, trinkets and stuff HAS been developed... or should it always be have been developed?

school yea!

 

[broken arm]

actually that's not a compound subject is it?

 

[Squiggle]

you know compound subjects...

can they always be treated as either singular or plural?

e.g. a set of tricks, trinkets and stuff HAS been developed... or should it always be have been developed?

school yea!

The set is the subject so I would say has.

 

[theweeyin]

you know compound subjects...

can they always be treated as either singular or plural?

e.g. a set of tricks, trinkets and stuff HAS been developed... or should it always be have been developed?

school yea!

I think it's have because you are talking about more than one set of objects. But then, I'm only a music teacher...I know shit all about grammar!

 

[magicbastarder]

i'm voting for has.

 

[broken arm]

another example....
the team has developed a new toy
or the team have developed a new toy.

they both seem right to me...

 

[Mormon Nailer]

"Have" sounds better to my ear but I think I have heard then use "has" on the news in these circumstances. Not that RTE can be held up as the arbiter of good grammer since Charles Mitchell retired.

 

[broken arm]

I think it's have because you are talking about more than one set of objects. But then, I'm only a music teacher...I know shit all about grammar!

my confusion is that when you call it a set does that not make it singular? or a compund whatsit?

 

[Mormon Nailer]

my confusion is that when you call it a set does that not make it singular? or a compund whatsit?

Perhaps you have to use the collective noun for the thing before you could safely say you were in the singular.

 

[magicbastarder]

my flock of sheep is missing.
my flock of sheep are missing.

the second sounds wrong.

 

[Squiggle]

my confusion is that when you call it a set does that not make it singular? or a compund whatsit?

I believe that it should be 'the team has'

team, set, group etc are singular

teams have
team has

 

[broken arm]

Should I use a singular or a plural verb with collective nouns such as 'government', 'committee', and 'family'?

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Such nouns are used to refer both to a whole group as a singular entity, and to the members of the group. The context may therefore require flexibility: you might write:

• The committee has now come to a decision.

but you could hardly use a singular verb in

• The committee have now taken their seats.

(A pedant might insist on writing 'The members of the committee have now taken their seats.')
In some contexts it is natural and idiomatic to use a plural verb with a noun which is singular in form:

• I have invited my family to tea and they are coming on FridayLeeds United are winning: they have just scored.
  
  
  http://www.askoxford.com/asktheexperts/faq/aboutgrammar/pluralverbs

mmm ok

 

[snakybus]

You can say both, Broken Arm.

eg The team has arrived. Led Zeppelin have re-formed. etc

 

[Mitchum]

another example....
the team has developed a new toy
or the team have developed a new toy.

they both seem right to me...

It's 'the team HAS developed a new toy'.

If the team were say disagreeing (ie. acting as individuals) then the plural verb (have) would apply.

 

[broken arm]

It's 'the team HAS developed a new toy'.

If the team were say disagreeing (ie. acting as individuals) then the plural verb (have) would apply.

but in the first sentence.. because I listed the units of the set (collective noun) should it be have?

 

[Squiggle]

but in the first sentence.. because I listed the units of the set (collective noun) should it be have?

No, the subject of the sentence is still the set.

 

[billygannon]

I is black.

 

[therealjohnny]

I could of answered this.

 

[Lili Marlene]

hi thread

 

[Bladez]

So the US commentators are correct after all? "Manchester United wins the game by 4 goals to 1"