Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[Marrion]

I have taught that we must use "a flock of + plural nouns" only with "singular verbs"

But

I have seen that "a flock of birds" almost is used only with both "is" and "are".

[1] A flock of birds are seen flying some 10 kilometers south of Zagreb.
And then
[2] A flock of birds is so incredibly tight.


I have seen that "a flock of these birds" is used with both "is" and "are".

[3] ................especially when a flock of these birds are calling.
[4] A flock of these birds is a beautiful sight............................

Why????? I want to know why...

[CP]

Why? Because people make mistakes, and because the rules of grammar were not laid down first by the grammar gods to be followed by the speakers, but were pieced together by people over a long time.

People break the rules of grammar all the time, often without realizing it. When someone says "A flock of pigeons are spoiling our picnic," he or she is focusing on what the pigeons are doing, not on the niceties of grammar. If the person had to write it for a test, he or she would probably get it right: "A flock of pigeons is spoiling our picnic."

Your sentence 1 is surprising because it probably was taken from a news story, so it was written by a professional, who should be more careful. Further, it is presumably the flock, not the individual birds, that can be seen flying, so I would think the writer might have thought of it in the singular. Compare sentence 4: It is the flock, not the individual birds, that is a beautiful sight.

The writer of sentence 1 made a mistake and now must write the sentence correctly on the blackboard 100 times so he or she will remember to do it right next time.

I think everyone should learn the rules and try to follow them, because that makes for the clearest, nicest communication. But I break the rules on purpose sometimes, for effect. And that's okay, too.
_________________
You live a new life for every new language you speak. -Czech proverb

[Marrion]

CP.. Thank you for your answers.^0^






May you be in happiness, ALWAYS!!^0^//