[Grammar] Urgent: go or goes?

[Joe333]

Sentence: What will happen if American Airlines go/goes bankrupt?
Question: What will come in the sentence "go" or "goes" and why?

Thanks

 

[Mohammadhelmi]

Sentence: What will happen if American Airlines go/goes bankrupt?

The correct answer is go.
Because the verb must agree with its antecedent in number. In other words, the subject of your sentence is plural and needs verb without (s).

 

[bhaisahab]

If "American Airlines" is the name of a company, "goes" is correct.

 

[Joe333]

If "American Airlines" is the name of a company, "go" is correct.

Thanks Bhaisahab and Mohammadhelmi for helping me. In another English forum one person, who has been recognized as ''proficient English speaker'' from that forum, told me this "it's a single company. I'd say "goes" 100% of the time." You agree with his/her logic? It is confusing.

Link to that forum Urgent: go or goes?
​

 

[bhaisahab]

Thanks Bhaisahab and Mohammadhelmi for helping me. In another English forum one person, who has been recognized as ''proficient English speaker'' from that forum, told me this "it's a single company. I'd say "goes" 100% of the time." You agree with his/her logic? It is confusing.

Link to that forum Urgent: go or goes?
​

I can't apologise enough, razer, I meant to write "goes".

 

[Joe333]

I can't apologise enough, razer, I meant to write "goes".

Ok. No problem . Typo happens . Important thing is my doubt is now clear :up: . But do you see a possibility of "go" being correct in American English? Or goes 'must' be used there?

Thanks

 

[5jj]

In British English, collective nouns are can be used with a singular or plural verb:

1. The government have/has announced a new plan ...
2. Portsmouth (the football team) are/is in financial trouble again.
3. American Airlines are/is going ....
4. Lufthansa have/has decided to ...

In American English, the singular verb is preferred. I am not sure what the Americans would do with #3. I imagine they'd go for the singular, as 'American Airlines' is the (singular) name of the company.

Both BrE and AmE would use the plural if 'American airlines' referred to airlines which were American: Some American airlines are going ...

 

[SoothingDave]

I am not sure what the Americans would do with #3. I imagine they'd go for the singular, as 'American Airlines' is the (singular) name of the company.

That is correct. "American Airlines has the best business class seats to Brazil."

 

[Tdol]

That is correct. "American Airlines has the best business class seats to Brazil."

In BrE, we could use has or have.