subject-verb agreement of proper noun

[engee30]

Hello there.

Once again I got into a quarrel with someone over whether it is possible to use a plural verb if the subject of the sentence is a proper noun in the singular form. This is the trouble sentence:

(Microsoft) Word have had quite an impact on me. (as the application and all its versions and bundles and stuff)

I know that in some instances you can use either a plural verb or a singular verb with a singular subject (like family, team) as well as with some proper nouns:

Microsoft have sold off some of their assets.

The question is, is it possible to apply the same rule to the subject-verb agreement of the sentence in question?
Thanks in advance.

[susiedqq]

Microsoft is a huge company, but still is an "it".

Microsoft has influence in the computer world.

[Anglika]

Originally Posted by engee30

Hello there.

Once again I got into a quarrel with someone over whether it is possible to use a plural verb if the subject of the sentence is a proper noun in the singular form. This is the trouble sentence:

(Microsoft) Word have had quite an impact on me. (as the application and all its versions and bundles and stuff)

In this sentence "has" would be correct since it is "[The] Microsoft Word [program]".

I know that in some instances you can use either a plural verb or a singular verb with a singular subject (like family, team) as well as with some proper nouns:

Microsoft have sold off some of their assets.

The question is, is it possible to apply the same rule to the subject-verb agreement of the sentence in question?
Thanks in advance.

.

[engee30]

Originally Posted by susiedqq

Microsoft is a huge company, but still is an "it".

Microsoft has influence in the computer world.

That's the usual form of agreement between the subject and the verb one would see or hear. I myself was able to see the plural verb with the proper noun Microsoft used, which raised my doubts about Word.