Audience Is Plural ?

Status
Not open for further replies.

vader jr

Member
Joined
Jan 20, 2010
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Malay
Home Country
Malaysia
Current Location
Malaysia
I am confused with the word 'audience'..

Is it singular ?
Is it countable noun ?
Is the word "audiences" exist ?

"The audience are watching the drama performance"
Is it correct..?
 

billmcd

Key Member
Joined
Mar 27, 2009
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
"Audience": singular countable noun.
 

SoothingDave

VIP Member
Joined
Apr 17, 2009
Member Type
Interested in Language
Native Language
American English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
Not a teacher.

In America, group words like "audience" or "committee" are generally treated as a singular. The audience is waiting. The team is going for ice cream after the game.

Audience is not countable.

Audiences is a word. You have one audience watch a play one night and a different one the next. You can refer to them as "audiences." Audiences seem to enjoy the show very much.
 

vader jr

Member
Joined
Jan 20, 2010
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Malay
Home Country
Malaysia
Current Location
Malaysia
If "audience" is singular countable noun..

Is it correct if I write..
"There are many audience in the hall."

It means "audience" must be followed by "is" not "are"..

Correct me..
 

Heterological

Member
Joined
Jun 25, 2010
Member Type
English Teacher
No, there is just one audience in the hall. An audience includes all people observing a particular performance. Think of it as a more specific form of the word "group."
 

billmcd

Key Member
Joined
Mar 27, 2009
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
Not a teacher.

In America, group words like "audience" or "committee" are generally treated as a singular. The audience is waiting. The team is going for ice cream after the game.

Audience is not countable.

Audiences is a word. You have one audience watch a play one night and a different one the next. You can refer to them as "audiences." Audiences seem to enjoy the show very much.

I consider "audience" countable. Why do you indicate it as "not countable" and use as an example, "Audiences seem to enjoy........."?
 

SoothingDave

VIP Member
Joined
Apr 17, 2009
Member Type
Interested in Language
Native Language
American English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
I consider "audience" countable. Why do you indicate it as "not countable" and use as an example, "Audiences seem to enjoy........."?

Probably cause I made a mistake.
 

Barb_D

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Mar 12, 2007
Member Type
Other
Native Language
American English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
Hi vader,

If "audience" is singular countable noun..

Is it correct if I write..
"There are many audience in the hall."

It means "audience" must be followed by "is" not "are"..

Correct me..

Audience means "the people in attendance."

There are many people making up the audience.
There is a large audience.

But not "There are many audience in the hall."
 

bertietheblue

Senior Member
Joined
May 21, 2010
Member Type
Other
Native Language
English
Home Country
UK
Current Location
UK
Like many collective nouns, 'audience' can be singular or plural. It's singular if you see the audience as a whole, plural if you see it as made up of individuals. Since an audience is usually seen as a whole, the singular is more common. However, in some cases I think the plural would be preferable, eg:

"The audience were booing throughout the performance."

since the emphasis is on individual audience members who are booing.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top