Return-Path: <nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov> Received: from literacy (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.9.3/8.9.0.Beta5/980425bjb) with SMTP id KAA10403; Wed, 7 Jun 2000 10:37:55 -0400 (EDT) Date: Wed, 7 Jun 2000 10:37:55 -0400 (EDT) Message-Id: <200006071416.JAA27345@iac12.navix.net> Errors-To: listowner@literacy.nifl.gov Reply-To: nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov Originator: nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov Sender: nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov Precedence: bulk From: Anna Silliman <anna@handsonenglish.com> To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-ESL:4555] Re: Verb tense X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Status: O Content-Length: 2393 Lines: 68 In American English it is usual to use a singular form verb with collective nouns--The Mafia uses, the army WAS, the government is, the team plays, etc. Perhaps this is because we are speaking of their function as one organizational structure, not that of the individuals. If we want to speak of the individuals we say, members of the Mafia, soldiers in the army, officials of the government, team players--with plural form verbs. Here's an example: Team X is not expected to play well in tomorrow's game, because some of their best players have tested positive for drug use and will be excluded from playing. (Exception: for some reason we consider "police" plural. Perhaps this is because police departments are locally controlled and there is no one organizational structure. So you might hear that "the police in Los Angeles have been criticized for their treatment of black citizens" (plural use of collective noun). We'd use the singular form for one person--'a police officer has a difficult job.' Look at any British English newspaper or listen to any BBC broadcast and you will note that they often use these collective nouns as plurals--The army were called in, the team are playing today, etc. This always sounds a little strange to an American ear yet perfectly comprehensible; it is certainly correct from a British standpoint. --Anna Hello, Gerry Lassche! On 6/7/00 4:38 AM you wrote: >June 7 > >Leave it to my Korean students to find this one. >Folks, maybe someone out there can teach me. > >In the 1995 (3rd ed) of Longman's Dictionary of >Contemporary English, the following appears: > >p 807 legitimate ... The Mafia uses legitimate >business operations as a front. [note the 3rd person >singular verb] > >p1224 riot ... The army were called in to put down the >riot. [note the 3rd person plural verb] > >Both cases are collective terms, yet the dictionary >chooses ( a singular verb for one, and a plural for >the other. Why? > >Can someone explain this for me please? > >===== >Gerry Lassche >O: 0562 221 5085 F: 0562 221 5030 >************************************ >Globalization Education Team >POSCO Education & Training Center >PO Box 36, 74-3 Gigok-dong, Nam-ku >Pohang City, Kyungbok KOREA 790-390 > >__________________________________________________ >Do You Yahoo!? >Yahoo! Photos -- now, 100 FREE prints! >http://photos.yahoo.com
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