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ajuma
Joined: 18 Feb 2003
Location: Anywere but Seoul!!
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 Posted: Sat Oct 15, 2005 7:11 pm Post subject: Grammar question |
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While channel-surfing, I came across one of those TOEIC teaching programs. One of the sentences was: Mass media HAVE control over......
My question is: Is "have" correct? It seems to me as if it should be "has", altough following the grammar rule of plurals (people HAVE), HAVE is correct. Ideas? |
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Hater Depot
Joined: 29 Mar 2005
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| Posted: Sat Oct 15, 2005 8:08 pm Post subject: |
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| "Have" is the correct answer, because "media" is plural. But colloquially most people will say "has". |
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denverdeath
Joined: 21 May 2005
Location: Boo-sahn
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| Posted: Sat Oct 15, 2005 10:28 pm Post subject: |
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Media in this sense can be either sing or plural(similar to "government(s)" or "the government(s)"). Guess it depends on whether the writer is referring to one media source or many. The part "mass" would likely make it be many, but I still think that either "have" or "has" is acceptable.
What happens if we change your example to "The mass media have/has control over..."? Anything? I still think either would be all right. |
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Hater Depot
Joined: 29 Mar 2005
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| Posted: Sat Oct 15, 2005 11:22 pm Post subject: |
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| If you're talking about "the Media" as in "the mainstream news establishment" then you're good either way. If you're talking about art it's better to be strict. |
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