Korean Job Discussion Forums

[WI-Do]

I've been presented with a grammar question that I've been parsing, and I haven't been able to provide a strong coherent answer to my co-worker. I would like some other thoughts if anyone has an idea.

I was asked whether the sentence below is correct and whether would it be correct to replace "has" with "have."

1. A series of episodes has left permanent imprints on their mind.

2. A series of episodes have left permanent imprints on their mind.


My initial reaction was that #1 is correct for American English, but that #2 would be correct for British English. However, does the indefinate article (a) force the singular verb agreement (has)?

I would appreciate any suggestions people can give, especially Brits, because I only know American.

[busanliving]

I'm a Brit, I would go with b being correct.

A series indicates plural followed by episodes which is clearly plural so dictates the verb should be have.

(series of episodes) = they therefore they have

[edwardcatflap]

Strictly speaking, 'series' is singular so should take a singular verb. As do the other examples below.

1)The bag of sweets is empty
2) There is a collection of objects in the cupboard
3) There was a series of episodes.

However it's quite common for people to use the plural verb in examples 2 and 3. I didn't know it was an American/British English thing

[busanliving]

There is a series of episodes on tv

Series is singular hence the is

There are episodes on tv

Episodes is plural hence the are

In the sentence a series of episodes have ...
The verb is being dictated by the noun episodes which is plural hence the form have

If it was a series has been on tv then the verb is being dictated by the noun series which is singular.

[edwardcatflap]

So is it 'the bag of sweets are/is on the table?'

[busanliving]

Good point

So a group of children is / are playing basketball?

[edwardcatflap]

group is different as, like 'team' but unlike bag, it can take a singular or plural verb (on its own) according to context. In your example I'd say both are possible.

[busanliving]

There has been one series of the wildlife show already

There have been two series of the wildlife show already

That would make the second sentence wrong then although it is in common usage.

[WI-Do]

Just to note, series is a countable noun that occurs as a singular and plural. Part of the confusion is that the singular and plural forms are the same.

I watched a TV series. (singular)
I watched one TV series. (singular)
I watched many TV series. (plural)
I watched two TV series. (plural)


With that said, the indefinate article can't attach to a plural noun, so the series in the original sentences is definitely singular.

[pegasus64128]

[The Cosmic Hum]

[some waygug-in]

I'd say both are correct, depending on whether or not the speaker wants to

focus on "a series" as being the subject or "episodes".


ex;

A group of students have complained about my grammar explanations.


A group of students has complained about my grammar explanations.


I'd tend towards have being more correct as it stressed individuals in the group rather than the group itself, but either one can be considered correct.

[YTMND]

My understanding is that British English uses "have" with perfect tenses more often than American English. In this case, I feel we are looking at something very different even though the word is the same.

"A series of episodes have left permanent imprints on their mind."

In context, "a series" already refers to episodes. So, we could simplify it to:

"A series ___ left permanent imprints on their mind."

However, if it is already established, then we should use "the" or "this" instead of "a". We could also replace it with "it". Can we replace it with "they"?

1. The series is about ______. (Anyone out there claiming we can say "are" about? Wouldn't it make more sense to say "the episodes are about"?)
2. This series is about ______. (same as above with "these episodes")
3. It is about ____.
4. I (have) watched a TV series. (this is where I think the British/American thing comes into play). It was about_____. (Anyone out there claiming we can say "they were about"? Wouldn't it make more sense to say "the episodes were about?")

If you are going to talk about 2 seasons, then I could see series as being plural. In this case, the sentence should read, "Two series have left permanent imprints on their mind."

Now, get out google and compare the results for "bbc.uk" & "the series have" with "bbc.uk" & "the series has". Look at how bbc.uk uses the words.

"fans of the series have complained" (fans plural)

"To give you easy access to some of the information on the series have a look at some of these"

"The series have been adapted from Henning Mankell's best selling Kurt Wallander " (WHOAH, why is it series have? Because "the". Bet you it went on for 2 or more series.

Yep, "Series one � 13 films produced in 2005 and 2006" and "Series two � 13 films shown 2009 -2010"

So, in this case, we can use "the series have" but we cannot say "a series have" - http://linda-bliss.hubpages.com/hub/Five-reasons-why-the-Swedish-Wallander-is-better-than-the-British

I rest my case your honor.

[pegasus64128]

[YTMND]