donate/donates.

[ahmin92]

I've been doing English exercises at home.. This question is making me headache..

The board of directors (donate,donates) generously to the needy every year without fail. I thought It should be donate but when i check the answer, it was donates...why?

[5jj]

I've been doing English exercises at home.. This question is making giving me a headache..

The board of directors (donate,donates) generously to the needy every year without fail. I thought It should be 'donate' but when i I checked the answer, it was 'donates'.w Why?

Either form is acceptable in BrE. We can see the board as a singular body, or as several people.

[Tdol]

In AmE, the singular is more common with collective nouns. In BrE, you can use the singular or plural.

[BobSmith]

This question is making me my head (space) ache [hurt].

[not a teacher]

This would be common in AmE as shown above. To me, it puts extra emphasis on your plight.

[TheParser]

CAUTION: NOT A TEACHER


(1) When you get time, please go to the "search" box at the top of this page and type

in "collective nouns." You will find a lot of helpful threads.

(2) If you are interested in speaking American English, please remember that

Americans usually use the singular if you are referring to the group "as a whole."

For example: His family comes from Ireland. But the plural is necessary if it refers to

"persons or parts separately." For example: His family are hard workers.

(3) If you are not certain, "the safest course is to use a singular verb."


Source for examples and the quoted parts: A Treasury for Word Lovers (1983) by Morton S. Freeman. iSi Press of Philadelphia was the publisher.