Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[Marrion]

I was taught that "team" is "a collective noun".

So can we use "a team of + plural nouns" with both "singular verbs" and "plural verbs"?

Otherwise, can we use "a team of + plural nouns" only with "singular verbs"?

[Mister Micawber]

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A team of horses is/are used to pull the wagon are both fine.

Although team is grammatically singular, for many (most?) speakers, 'plural override'-- the tendency to view the team as it is: several horses-- causes the singular to seem hypercorrect and the plural verb is chosen.
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_________________
"I really do not know that anything has ever been more exciting than diagramming sentences." � Gertrude Stein
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Canadian-American who teaches English for a living at Mr Micawber's

[Marrion]

Here is another question..

A team of horses which is/are used to pull the wagon are both fine.

At this sentence, can we rewrite "....................is both fine�?

[Mister Micawber]

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I knew you were going to ask that, Marrion.

No: the word 'both' precludes that possibility. The structure is anomalous, but I believe we cannot get around the fact that are two alternative verbs in the sentence, even without the presence of 'both'.
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_________________
"I really do not know that anything has ever been more exciting than diagramming sentences." � Gertrude Stein
...............
Canadian-American who teaches English for a living at Mr Micawber's

[Marrion]

Thank you very much.







May you be in happiness ALWAYS!!^0^