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raewon
Joined: 16 Jun 2009
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 Posted: Sun Jun 22, 2014 10:37 pm Post subject: collective noun question on family |
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Not sure if my subject heading is correct for the question I'd like to ask, but here it is.
My family tries not to waste money when we go on vacation.
That sounds fine to me, but I wonder if it's grammatically OK or not.
Is it grammatically OK to use family + singular verb and
we + plural verb in the same sentence like that?
If it is acceptable, what would be the support?
If it isn't, how would say the same thing in a single sentence?
Thanks for any replies to this question. |
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mysteryadam
Joined: 27 Jan 2011
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| Posted: Sun Jun 22, 2014 11:04 pm Post subject: |
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It's fine, don't worry.
You are talking about two different clauses in the same sentence.
You don't need to have singular/plural agreement between clauses, just within them, if you get what I mean. |
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The Cosmic Hum
Joined: 09 May 2003
Location: Sonic Space
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| Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2014 6:28 am Post subject: Re: collective noun question on family |
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| raewon wrote: |
Not sure if my subject heading is correct for the question I'd like to ask, but here it is.
My family tries not to waste money when we go on vacation.
That sounds fine to me, but I wonder if it's grammatically OK or not.
Is it grammatically OK to use family + singular verb and
we + plural verb in the same sentence like that?
If it is acceptable, what would be the support?
If it isn't, how would say the same thing in a single sentence?
Thanks for any replies to this question. |
You raise an interesting question.
Family can be used as both a singular or plural collective noun.
We have discussed this topic before, but just for the sake of example.
Samsung are having a sale. (British English)
Samsung is having a sale. (American English)
Mystery makes a good point on the separate clauses...though the subject in question can be both plural and singular...so kind of a one-off, so to say.
Either way, the advice is good and so is your grammar.
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raewon
Joined: 16 Jun 2009
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| Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2014 3:21 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks for both of the replies. They were helpful.
Welcome home (back?), Cosmic Hum! |
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