[Grammar] The Browns is or the Browns are?

[Enfie]

Hello, I have a silly question. I got confused lately and I'm quite ashamed of it...

The Browns (as a family) IS or the Browns are? People is or people are?

I always thought that by saying the Browns IS - it is meant that the we refer to the Browns doing something as a group, together. Lately my brain started analysing the word and I began to think that it should be the Browns ARE, since the plural.

Please help me with a good explanation.

Thank you!

 

[emsr2d2]

The Browns are ...
The Brown family is/are ...

In BrE, there are several terms that can attract either a singular or plural noun - family, government, team, for example. With the context you provided, I would choose my verb depending on whether I feel the family is being treated as a single unit or a group of people who make up a family group.

The Brown family is going on holiday to Crete this year. (I see them as a single unit.)
The Brown family are all overweight and have decided to join a gym. (I see them as several separate people who happen to share a surname, a house, and a weight problem.)

With the word "people", you can only ever treat it as the third person plural so it's "People are ...".

 

[bubbha]

However, in both BrE and AmE, we would say "The Browns are..."

 

[jutfrank]

This is really very simple: If you say the Browns (with a plural 's'), then you must use a verb which agrees, regardless of the fact that you may be conceiving a single family unit.

The Browns is ... :cross:
The Browns are ... :tick:


When we use a plural subject, we always use a plural verb.

When we use a singular subject, we use either a singular or a plural verb, depending on how we conceive of the subject, or on the variety of English we are speaking.

 

[YAMATO2201]

With the word "people", you can only ever treat it as the third person singular so it's "People are ...".

I think you meant to write "... the third person plural ...". Am I right?

By the way, I see nothing wrong with the following example:

They are a proud, dignified people.
https://www.macmillandictionary.com/dictionary/british/people_1 (Definition #3)

 

[emsr2d2]

Of course I meant third person plural. Thanks! I've corrected the error!

 

[Enfie]

I think you meant to write "... the third person plural ...". Am I right?

By the way, I see nothing wrong with the following example:

They are a proud, dignified people.
https://www.macmillandictionary.com/dictionary/british/people_1 (Definition #3)

Yes, this is what I meant. Plural. I'm sorry for my mistake.

How does it goes with EVERYONE? Everyone is or are?

Thank you all for your answers. They were very helpful. You see, during my studies we were told that when we talk about a group of people we should use IS. This is why I got confused after all those years of teaching.

Thank you once again.

 

[Tdol]

We say everyone is.