Comments on: An email we never sent…

By: moioci

moioci — Sat, 29 Jan 2005 10:33:55 +0000

I misstated my question.
Don’t Brits sometimes use plural verb forms with nouns like government, corporation, and organization?
Some random examples:
Sinn F?in were warned today … (Guardian 1/28/05)

…and the Government have given repeated assurances…(http://www.dca.gov.uk/pubs/reports/prerogative.htm)

The Corporation have asked panel members formally to confirm …(http://www.housingcorplibrary.org.uk/housingcorp.nsf/AllDocuments/F6A4BAF56E77241D80256BA3003D4A42)

By: Phoenician in a time of Romans

Phoenician in a time of Romans — Thu, 27 Jan 2005 14:23:36 +0000

Mmm. I work in one of the largest libraries in my country, specialising in history and archives of the nation and the region. So I’m at the front of the library, and someone comes in and politely asks me “Do you think the library will have anything on [the famous second European discoverer who mapped out the country's coastlines and named just about everything]?”

I look at him, waited two beats and said “Well, it’s possible.” And then we both burst out laughing.

By: mdhatter

mdhatter — Thu, 27 Jan 2005 09:24:58 +0000

are you sure he didn’t mean -present company-?

By: TheaLogie

TheaLogie — Thu, 27 Jan 2005 08:53:24 +0000

“Don’t Brits view companies, organizations, and governments as plural entities?”

Speaking as a Limey:

sadly, no.

By: moioci

moioci — Thu, 27 Jan 2005 08:23:46 +0000

Don’t Brits view companies, organizations, and governments as plural entities? Could this individual be correct within the framework of his/her culture? Just asking.

By: alan

alan — Thu, 27 Jan 2005 08:19:39 +0000

Being party to the heretofore undisclosed occupation, I can assure everyone that the company do, indeed, suck.

Their customer service, on the other hand, is first rate!