Singular or plural?

zigzag · #1 (**permalink**) 19-Jul-2006, 02:49

When I used google to search for "when a group of people...", I found both singular and plural verbs following "when a group of people...."
What is the rule? Should a singular or plural verb be used?
Thanks.

Tdol · #2 (**permalink**) 19-Jul-2006, 07:52

In American English, collective nouns tend to take a singular verb, but in British English they tend to take a plural.

Michelle20 · #3 (**permalink**) 19-Jul-2006, 11:20

uhh. I did not know that tdol. I always use a singular verb after people and thought that it was correct for both countries. Thanks

Tdol · #4 (**permalink**) 20-Jul-2006, 07:02

In the UK, you'll here 'the team/government/company/firm are' very commonly.


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