Is it "the Maldives is" or "the Maldives are"?

[Fischer]

I have always known it to be "the Maldives is" just like "the United States is" or "the Philippines is". Checked the academic sites and even they say "the Maldives is", including Berkley and Harvard. Thomas Cook has both versions with "is" and "are". Any thoughts?

 

[MikeNewYork]

I usually see "is".

 

[Tdol]

I'd use the plural, but then I am a British English speaker and tend to do so.

 

[Fischer]

Thanks! The Philippines, like the Maldives, is made up of several islands. However, it is a country. As a country, is it still correct to say "the Maldives are"? Even the Maldivian in the article said "is", but it looks like opinions are divided in this area. I was hoping to get something definitive.

 

[Raymott]

Have you considered that there might not be anything definitive?

 

[konungursvia]

Let go of his account? Just do it his way, on his document. That's the business norm.

 

[Tdol]

I just wanted to know whether he was right to say "are" is definitive

It's clearly not definitive- there are differences of opinion and between variants.

 

[Fischer]

Thanks, Tdol! Totally agree with you there.

Would it be all right if I requested that this thread be deleted? It has gone off-topic, I think, and is making me feel a tad uncomfortable. Thanks.

 

[MikeNewYork]

I object to the deletion. This thread may have value to other learners.

 

[Tdol]

I have tidied the thread up and removed some posts, leaving the language content.