was/were: the government

[Tdol]

Not at all, Humble. I think that this is a fairly recent development. I have seen older grammars of British English with the singular as the only form.

[PINKGREAT]

To my Americanized ear, it's 'was' that is after "government'

[Humble]

Well, it's better to mine, too, I guess because it's sing. in Russian.