United has taken the lead.

[sb70012]

With about ten minutes to go, United has taken the lead.

Hello teachers,
I saw this sentence in a grammar book. But I couldn't understand it.
Would you please clarify the blue part to me? I can't understand what it says.
I searched the blue sentence in forum but couldn't find any thread related to my question.

Source: ABC of Common Grammatical Errors for Learners and Teachers of English by Nigel D Turton

I have also taken a picture of the page. If you click here, you will see it.

Many thanks in advance.

 

[5jj]

What about ten minutes to go, United has taken the lead.

Ten minutes before the end of the game, United ( a team) scored a goal that put them one goal ahead of the opposing team.

 

[Rover_KE]

It's more natural to say, read and hear '...United have taken the lead'.

 

[MikeNewYork]

It's more natural to say, read and hear '...United have taken the lead'.

That would not be natural in AmE.

 

[Rover_KE]

Consider Manchester United. We say 'United have taken the lead'.

Now consider Orlando Magic. Do you say 'Magic has taken the lead'?

Their website suggests that the club's name is considered to be a plural word.

 

[SoothingDave]

Consider Manchester United. We say 'United have taken the lead'.

Now consider Orlando Magic. Do you say 'Magic has taken the lead'?

Their website suggests that the club's name is considered to be a plural word.

Team nicknames are generally considered plural. Especially the ones that end in an "s."

If referred to by the city, it is singular.

So, the Steelers are the team with the most Super Bowl trophies. Pittsburgh is a perennial contender.

 

[MikeNewYork]

Consider Manchester United. We say 'United have taken the lead'.

Now consider Orlando Magic. Do you say 'Magic has taken the lead'?

Their website suggests that the club's name is considered to be a plural word.

Yes. We mostly say Orlando has taken the lead or (the) Magic has taken the lead. Your link does not go their web site, it goes to an AP article on Fox Sports' web site. Most of our sports teams have plural names: Yankees, Jets, Bears, Nets, Islanders, Giants, etc. This does not pose a problem. But with a team named The Wolfpack, for example, or when we refer to the team by its city name, it would be unusual to see a plural use in AmE.

 

[Raymott]

That would not be natural in AmE.

Indeed. In AusE either would work. We've probably had this discussion enough times, I think. Do you think we'll find a resolution?

 

[5jj]

. Do you think we'll find a resolution?

The UE Standards Committee ___ discussing that at this very moment. The gap will be filled when a decision is reached.

 

[konungursvia]

It's more natural to say, read and hear '...United have taken the lead'.

Only on that little island near Normandy. Here, it sounds like a confused utterance.

 

[Raymott]

Only on that little island near Normandy. Here, it sounds like a confused utterance.

And, as I've said, it's natural on a rather bigger island south-east of Asia.

 

[MikeNewYork]

Indeed. In AusE either would work. We've probably had this discussion enough times, I think. Do you think we'll find a resolution?

I don't think we will. But we can find tolerance.

 

[konungursvia]

Tasmanian Devil!