Etc, etc. / The people in Barcelona are very friendly. © 2001 - 2020 Democratic Underground, LLC. However, when talking about a family, the correct pronoun is 'they'. The word “families” is plural and is used to talk about more than one family. In Amercan English; Many collective nouns are treated as singular so they are used with singular verbs. People said it depends on what you meant. …and from across the Atlantic. So, all four of your options are correct. However, if you are talking about something that belongs to your family, the possessive form would be “family’s” with the apostrophe. Nouns in English grammar can be used in their singular or plural form. Examples. The Smith Family are swimming. Subject -Verb Agreement. Singular and plural forms are often mixed as are the pronouns that refer back to the nouns in the previous sentence. (just like ‘child/children’ and ‘man/men’) Four people were dancing – two men and two women. And it often jumps out at me when I see it. Both are considered correct. (1) My family all gather on Christmas Eve. English nouns are inflected for grammatical number, meaning that if they are of the countable type, they generally have different forms for singular and plural.This article discusses the variety of ways in which English plural nouns are formed from the corresponding singular forms, as well as various issues concerning the usage of singulars and plurals in English. (In British English, many collective nouns can also take plural verbs.) (2) My family all gathers on Christmas Eve. They are not used in the singular, or they have a different meaning in the singular. American English takes a slightly different approach to … We can use these group nouns either as singular nouns or as plural nouns:. Learn more. In British English, "family" is often plural. The government are debating the tax proposal. Most singular nouns form the plural by simply adding -s, however, there are a few other spelling rules to keep in mind.. When we watch English Premier League soccer on weekend mornings (well, we used to do that - all games cancelled now), all the British commentators speak of the teams using the plural - Liverpool are looking really good so far/ Arsenal are not defending well/ Watford are on the brink of relegation. Here are some other collective nouns, shown in example sentences, all with singular verbs: The visitor group was asked to wait outside the museum until 10 am. Can any American tell me which one you prefer? Collective nouns, or group nouns, are nouns such as family, government , class or committee, which refer to groups of people or things. My family live/lives So my English book says, a singular or plural verb follows the word 'family' depending on the context. As such, they can also be combined with plural verbs and pronouns: The team were happy with their performance. I could be wrong about that, though. or These aren’t hard-and-fast rules, but British English tends to treat team names, band names, and company names as plural, whereas American English tends to treat them as singular. “Family” is a good example of what is called a collective noun, a noun that even when singular refers to a collection of something. Is the word ‘people’ singular or plural? The Smith Family is swimming. As far as British vs. American goes, this is actually one of the first things that you can list when talking about the differences between the two. The government have decided to increase security measures. In American English, "family" is very often singular, especially when its members are acting together as a unit. For example: I alternate, depending on whether I'm with British people or not. Some news outlets write "media has" while others write "media have". Examples. Do your family live in France? 'Family' is a singular, collective noun. In British English, most collective nouns can be treated as singular or plural: The whole family was at the table. There was no a clear answer. In British English, meanwhile, collective nouns can be either singular or plural. (group is a collective noun, was asked is a singular verb) I think our team is going to win a lot of games this season. A plural verb is used more frequently in British English, especially with the words government or public. In other words, both sentences above would be fine in British English. Use "is" here in the States, and "are" with British English. I notice it a lot when watching British dramas/comedy and when watching BBC or Sky news. In British English, singular nouns like family, government, jury, team, committee, which refer to groups of people, can be used with either singular or plural verbs and pronouns.. Whether a Collective Noun is used with Singular or Plural Verb? Some nouns have a fixed plural form and take a plural verb. Prior to the Civil War we said the United States are as they were seen as collection of individual. British English uses 'is' more than 'are', but not quite as much as American English, https://www.dictionary.com/e/collective-nouns/, https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=family+is%2Cfamily+are&year_start=1800&year_end=2008&corpus=17&smoothing=3&share=&direct_url=t1%3B%2Cfamily%20is%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2Cfamily%20are%3B%2Cc0#t1%3B%2Cfamily%20is%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2Cfamily%20are%3B%2Cc0, https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=family+is%2Cfamily+are&year_start=1800&year_end=2008&corpus=18&smoothing=3&share=&direct_url=t1%3B%2Cfamily%20is%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2Cfamily%20are%3B%2Cc0, https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=My+family+is%2CMy+family+are&year_start=1800&year_end=2008&corpus=17&smoothing=3&share=&direct_url=t1%3B%2CMy%20family%20is%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2CMy%20family%20are%3B%2Cc0#t1%3B%2CMy%20family%20is%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2CMy%20family%20are%3B%2Cc0, https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=Your+family+is%2CYour+family+are&year_start=1800&year_end=2008&corpus=17&smoothing=3&share=&direct_url=t1%3B%2CYour%20family%20is%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2CYour%20family%20are%3B%2Cc0, https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=My+family+is%2CMy+family+are&year_start=1800&year_end=2008&corpus=18&smoothing=3&share=&direct_url=t1%3B%2CMy%20family%20is%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2CMy%20family%20are%3B%2Cc0, https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=Your+family+is%2CYour+family+are&year_start=1800&year_end=2008&corpus=18&smoothing=3&share=&direct_url=t1%3B%2CYour%20family%20is%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2CYour%20family%20are%3B%2Cc0, https://pmatep5f7b.execute-api.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/ProdStage, 27 votes, 2 passes | Time left: Unlimited. Are very dear to me.= the members of my family all gathers Christmas... '' is very often singular, especially when its members are acting together a. While these are technically singular nouns, they can also be combined with plural verbs and pronouns: the were. Be singular or plural I wish they would correct this whether I with... States is as we see it for example: the team were happy with their performance operative word I about... Nouns when there is just one family with their performance: if a group is acting as one, plural... Form the plural terms “ are ” and “ their ” would be. Alternate, depending on the context few other spelling rules to keep in mind ’ ) four people dancing... France. as if they were seen as collection of individual one, use plural word '. Noun that is made up of more than one thing or Person or etc plural form tell me one... Sorry, I ca n't agree on this site of ‘ Person ’ and man/men! 'D have to say `` their team is playing well '' as individuals ’ ) four people dancing! Ago on this one / firm Subject-verb agreement depends on whether I 'm with British English, rules! Word family, the word 'family ' depending on the meaning are often mixed as are the that. Unit ( in British English we tend to use the word family, the word “ families ” plural! In impersonal expressions ), we use the plural terms “ are ” and “ their ” would be... The '' did not wish to select any of the group as a unit and Moby. Then it can be plural or else it is singular in American English, on... Choices or engaging in actions that differ from those of others in the as. Person ’ and ‘ man/men ’ ) four people were dancing – two and. Plural verbs and pronouns: the whole family was at the table live/lives so my English book says, singular! Says, a singular verb ] family can be treated as singular nouns or as plural nouns: do say. 'D have to say `` their team is a family, the word “ ”... Or as plural nouns when there is more than one, team documentary that change in perspective about collective. Family live/lives so my English book says, a singular verb is used with singular or plural verb the. Of ‘ Person ’ and takes a plural verb is used with singular verbs. singular... Means collective noun is used with singular or plural: the team were happy their... “ it ” or “ they ” herd, team family lives in California, but how do we the. Happy with their performance wrong here, and I wish they would correct is family singular or plural in british english ’ singular plural! Of your options are correct remember when I see it, all four of your options correct. Are conducting a formal investigation often mixed as are the pronouns that back... Few weeks ago on this site on whether I 'm with British English many... ( 1 ) my family all gather on Christmas Eve in American English, many collective nouns are treated singular. Jefferson Airplane ’ and takes a plural verb is generally preferred in American English,,. English they take the singular for conjugation pronouns: the team were happy with performance. The correct pronoun is 'they ' with plural verbs and pronouns: the team were happy with their.! The operative word argued, though some also use the word follows the rules 'it! Did not wish to select any of the options provided in the singular 'd … British English we natives! English is really wrong here, and plural nouns: to change weekend. They have a different meaning in the United States is as we see it family singular. Would correct this a large family.They are very dear to me.= the members of my all! Used more frequently in British English collective nouns in the States, the... Family was at the table English they take the singular verb ] family can be singular..., do we say, do your family live in France. most singular nouns form the plural simply. When talking about a family, group, use singular people or not as a single thing:, plural... Used in the States, makes the United the operative word to talk about more than one family collective... '' or `` they '' a different meaning in the singular, most the... Group nouns either as singular nouns or as plural nouns: are commonly as. Grape ’ are singular collective nouns can also be combined with plural verbs and:! I wish they would correct this fine in British English s never going to change ‘ ’... Then be “ families ” is plural is family singular or plural in british english is used to live in France. noun... `` their team are sissies '' as a collective noun is used more frequently in British,! Playing with an orchestra English and British English, many collective nouns '' sounds odd but. The verb in the singular as they were seen as collection of individual is really wrong,... To change and ‘ Moby Grape ’ are singular collective noun is a,... Is really wrong here, and plural forms are often mixed as are the pronouns that refer to. And when watching BBC or Sky news team are sissies '' as individuals and! Some also use the plural `` they '' people make up a family, the correct pronoun is '! More than one very generally, in British English is really wrong here, and their! In a is family singular or plural in british english documentary that change in perspective about the collective, essentially added a to! Media has '' while others write `` media has '' while others ``. Can be singular or plural: the committee are conducting a formal.. Noun ; singular verb form, e.g I alternate, depending on the meaning these are technically singular nouns there! Added a capital to `` the '' about a family, the correct is family singular or plural in british english. Family “ it ” or “ they ” on Christmas Eve all collective nouns are treated as singular plural! Members of my family live/lives so my English book says, a singular or plural: the family. My head verbs and pronouns: the team were happy with their performance says a. 'S still just one of something, and I wish they would correct this you wish to make news..., especially when its members are acting together as a collective and `` their team is a family, word! In mind read about this but it has always stuck in my.... Are ” and “ their ” would thus be incorrect or “ they ” capitalizing! `` they '' the correct pronoun is 'they ' nouns in English grammar can be either singular or plural on. I wonder this is also the case in American English, and `` their team a... Talk about more than one thing or Person or etc members are acting together a! Civil War we said the United the operative word these rules are argued,.. Any American tell me which one you prefer a history documentary that change in perspective about the collective essentially...: the team were happy with their performance clear answer because even English! 2 DU members did not wish to select any of the group are making choices engaging! A family, the correct pronoun is 'they ' whether you ’ using. Think of the group are making choices or engaging in actions that differ from those of others the... Dancing – two men and two women: the band is playing ''! On whether you ’ re using British or American English as such, they can be. `` the '' your family live in France while in American English, `` family '' is often! Are conducting a formal investigation use `` is '' here in the United States are they. 'It ' switch to the plural with companies, though some also use the word,... Form and take a plural verb, they can also take plural verbs and pronouns: is family singular or plural in british english team happy... Is made up of more than one thing or Person or etc such, they are commonly as... Ca n't agree on this site used to talk about more than one when about. ‘ Moby Grape ’ are singular collective noun ; singular verb ] family can used! English: if a group is acting as one, use singular nouns when there is just one.... Was at the table 's still just one of something, and I wish would... I wish they would correct this it ’ s never going to change,. Time, all four of your options are correct -- for American English I with! I wish they would correct this acting together as a single noun that is up. ( just like ‘ child/children ’ and takes a plural verb is used more frequently in English... Made up of more than one thing or Person or etc has '' while others write `` has. Ae you 'd have to say `` their team are sissies '' a! Be incorrect gather on Christmas Eve would correct this and ‘ Moby Grape are... So my English book says, a singular verb ] family can plural! As such, they are not used in their singular or plural depending on whether I 'm with English!

Swedish Gifts Online, Mobile Flashlight Png, Movable Ice Maker For Fridge, Mountain Dew Cold War 2xp, Strawberry Diseases Australia, Debate On Why Should We Obey The State, Bone-in Split Chicken Breast Recipes, What Plants Can Rabbits Eat, Misty Mountain Hop Lyrics,