Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

ClarissaMach · Last edited by ClarissaMach on Tue May 30, 2006 3:49 am; edited 2 times in total

I've got a doubt about the word "generation": is it a plural or singular word? I mean, should we say 1) "That generation was so sad" or 2) "That generation were so sad"?

I allways thought sentence number one would be the right one, but today I was reading a book (a classic of British literature) and there was this phrase:

"The younger generation were so serious".

Could someone help me?

Clarissa Alves Machado.

Kristea · Posted: Fri May 26, 2006 6:28 am Post subject:

I think of the word "generation" as a collective noun usually. So "generation is" is what I would usually go with.

However, "generation are" is also correct. I don't think you will hear it as often though.

Hope that helps - Kristi
_________________
"That man is a success who has lived well, laughed often and loved much." R.L. Stevenson

ClarissaMach · Posted: Fri May 26, 2006 10:09 am Post subject: Thank you, Kristea

The original phrase which surprised me was "The younger generation were so serious". It was written in one of the most famous Virginia Woolf's book, "The Years" (you may check it by clicking here: http://etext.library.adelaide.edu.au/w/woolf/virginia/w91y/chapter11.html).

Clarissa Alves Machado.

ClarissaMach · Posted: Fri May 26, 2006 10:12 am Post subject:

And thank you very much, Kristea!

Clarissa Alves Machado.

Lorikeet · Joined: 08 Oct 2005 Posts: 1877 Location: San Francisco

I believe there is a difference between American English and British English on this one. (I don't know where the various other "Englishes" are on it.)

In the U.S. we say:

This class is very good.
My family is going to meet me.
Her team was happy after the game.
Our group was the best one in the class.

Perhaps a speaker of British English can tell you what the differences are.

KazAV · Posted: Sat May 27, 2006 4:47 am Post subject:

I am in agreement with you Lorikeet as it is grammatically correct and I use it that way myself, although common usage now allows the plural in some cases with a collective noun.

pugachevV · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 2295

I agree with Lorikeet.
You hear it used wrongly all the time, but it's still wrong.
I personally abhor the dumbing down of the language just because some grammar is difficult.

ClarissaMach · Posted: Mon May 29, 2006 4:38 am Post subject:

So, I must consider it's right?

May be this theory about differences between American and British English is right. Isn't there a difference about the way the word "police" is used?

The police is coming.
The police are coming.

Or "the police is coming" is wrong?

Clarissa Alves Machado.