| CCIE 8122 2002-10-29, 2:23 am |
| > As one example, when using a singular noun in a collective sense ... e.g., a
> bunch of grapes IS on the vine, a group of people IS approaching, a pride of
> lions IS on the hunt, a litter of kittens IS all tabby. In that context,
> the use of the word ARE would be grammatically incorrect, at least in
> English if not also in American.
Actually, Nicolas, you are not entirely correct. This construction has
as much to do with with subject/verb agreement as with number.
The subject/verb pairs of your sentence fragments are in CAPS:
a BUNCH of grapes IS on
a GROUP of people IS APPROACHING
a PRIDE of lions IS on
a LITTER of kittens IS all
In none of these sentences can you correctly (in American English) use
the verb ARE; it would be tantamount to saying:
a bunch are on
a group are approaching
a pride are on
a litter are all
which are patently incorrect in American grammar because collective
nouns are always (or maybe almost always?) singular.
Now, in British English, you are correct; while as Americans we always
say "my family IS well" (any exception would be due to British
influence), the British generally consider collective nouns to be
plural: "my family ARE well."
kr
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