Subject/Verb Agreement

[Maeve]

Several posts relating to subject/verb agreement have come up in the Punctuation section. I'm attempting to move them to this new thread.

[Maeve]

Here are the posts that I'm trying to move into this new thread:

QuillingQuillQuiller
5/26/08
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A thing had bothered me today... I read this in a blog.
...proof of photographs is better.
Is or Are?
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Traxius
5/26/08
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Are is plural, is is singular.
So I would say...

...proof of photographs are better.

The plates are in the cupboad.
The spoon is in the drawer.
Where are the forks?
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Maeve
5/26/08
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is is correct. Proof is the subject of the verb and proof is singular.
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QuillingQuillQuiller
5/27/08
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Traxius 
Are is plural, is is singular.
So I would say...

...proof of photographs are better.

The plates are in the cupboad.
The spoon is in the drawer.
Where are the forks?
What about:

... rims of Ferarri's car ___ beautiful.
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Traxius
5/28/08
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You're right Maeve, my mistake.

Quilling, if you can figure out the subject, then you'll know which to use. Give it a shot and tell us what you think.
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[Maeve]

Problems arise when a singular subject is separated from its verb by a prepositional phrase that ends with a plural noun (or when a plural subject is separated from the verb by a prepositional phrase that ends with a singular noun).

Errors of this kind happen because we want to make the verb agree with the noun nearest to it.

The verb must agree with the subject of the verb.

Here are some examples that are correct:

One of the doors is open.
The politician with all the ex-wives lacks credibility.
That film, despite all the car chases and explosions, bores me.

[Ali]

The one which I always get stuck on is when using a "group" word.

Ie, should it be:

"The team is..."
or
"The team are..."

I have the impression both are valid, and I certainly see both in widespread usage -- does it depend on context? To me, it would make sense to write:

"The team are" when I mean "each member of the team individually" (eg. "The team are arriving in six different coaches")

"The team is" when I mean "the whole team as a collective" (eg. "The team is out on the pitch")

But this might just be me! Is there any rule or guideline on the "is"/"are" for group nouns?

Cheers,

Ali

[Maeve]

Ali,
You have stated the rule. Some words like team, jury, and committee can take a plural verb if the individuals in the group are being considered:
The committee are in disagreement. However, I think that American usage tends to avoid such constructions.

[Ali]

Thanks, Maeve! Good to know my half-guessed understanding was correct...

Ali