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why do the British...

Discussion in 'Anything goes' started by bydesign77, Oct 9, 2011.

Page 1 of 4
  1. bydesign77

    bydesign77 Active Member

    ...treat nouns, like cities and companies like plural nouns?

    There was a FB post from Top Gear that says "Nissan are releasing" and I've heard them refer to teams like Manchester as a plural, too. So why do we do it differently? It doesn't sound right to my American ear.

    I'm sure I should know the answer, but I don't.
     
    bydesign77, Oct 9, 2011
    #1
  2. LongTimeListener

    LongTimeListener Well-Known Member

    ... Not brush their teeth?
     
    LongTimeListener, Oct 9, 2011
    #2
  3. imjustagirl

    imjustagirl Active Member

    ... sound so goddamn awesome?
     
    imjustagirl, Oct 9, 2011
    #3
  4. slappy4428

    slappy4428 Active Member

    ... eat prawn-flavoured chips?
     
    slappy4428, Oct 9, 2011
    #4
  5. Buck

    Buck Well-Known Member

    It's an extension of the collective noun idea.

    If you are writing a headline about the Miami Heat, you would use a plural verb because Heat would be a collective noun.
    Heat choke rather than Heat chokes.
     
    Buck, Oct 9, 2011
    #5
  6. dooley_womack1

    dooley_womack1 Well-Known Member

    apologize before entering?
     
    dooley_womack1, Oct 9, 2011
    #6
  7. imjustagirl

    imjustagirl Active Member

    In my experience, they should apologize before and after exiting.

    Wait, what?
     
    imjustagirl, Oct 9, 2011
    #7
  8. Brooklyn Bridge

    Brooklyn Bridge Well-Known Member

    Pronounce schedule like shh-edule instead of sked-ule?
     
    Brooklyn Bridge, Oct 9, 2011
    #8
  9. novelist_wannabe

    novelist_wannabe Well-Known Member

    ... drive on the left side of the road?

    ... eat spotted dick?
     
    novelist_wannabe, Oct 9, 2011
    #9
  10. Rumpleforeskin

    Rumpleforeskin Active Member

    [​IMG]

    I don't know how to take that.
     
    Rumpleforeskin, Oct 9, 2011
    #10
  11. Bodie_Broadus

    Bodie_Broadus Active Member

    ...think Mr. Bean is funny.
     
    Bodie_Broadus, Oct 9, 2011
    #11
  12. three_bags_full

    three_bags_full Well-Known Member

    ... have such terrible food?
     
    three_bags_full, Oct 9, 2011
    #12
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