A group of words that ... a meaning |
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| Votes: 348 |
Comments: 7 |
Added: September 2004 |
Comments:
| X Mode - 17th September 2004 01:02
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I believe "has" is the correct and logical choice here. It is the "group" that possesses the "meaning". The noun "group" is singular, and, therefore, requires a singular verb form.
I understand that in British English collective singular nouns are treated as either singular or plural. In this way, I can understand why a BE speaker might say using "have" in this phrase is okay.
If an American English speaker were to use "have" in this phrase, I would consider it an error. I've heard this sort of error in spoken American English every so often. It's understandable how this sort of error could occur. The plural noun "words" would tend to make one go for a plural verb. However, as I've already pointed out, it is the "group" that possesses the "meaning".
Now, this question comes to mind. Are there any American English speakers that would consider both "has" and "have" to be correct here? If so, would any AE speaker that thinks "have" is correct here also say it's correct to treat "none" as a plural pronoun?
For example: None of those words have any meaning.
If one is to say that "have" is okay in this poll question, then I would have to say that "have" is okay in my example sentence.
Some American English speakers believe that "none" must be singular. I don't think that "none" must always be treated as a singular pronoun.
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| kaboodleus - 10th March 2005 03:21
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The verb can go either way, but it changes the interpretation:
"Happy, glad, and pleased" is a group of words that have a meaning of a positive emotion.
"Happy as a clam" is a group of words that has a meaning of "quite happy."
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| Trish - 20th December 2006 14:20
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| I will still stick to my answer has, because of the article A. A group of words that has a meaning." meaning it is singular. Then it could have been "A group of words that have meanings.
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| Virve - 25th January 2007 09:17
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| ...words that HAVE a meaning. The verb refers to the plural.
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| Ma Kwan Chin - 19th March 2008 10:41
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| i want to know the answer.
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| f uad - 30th April 2008 21:25
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| Have.
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| Glad - 11th June 2008 03:10
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| It is the word "has " which suits more than "have"
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