Grammar question

[Pam Scruton]

No: HPFGUIDX 10131

--- In HPforGrownups at egroups.com, Amanda wrote 
> The grammar is correct, so far as I understand it. British English 
treats
> collective nouns--like sheep, council, assembly, you know, words 
that are
> themselves singular but which refer to multiple members--as plurals 
for the
> purposes of subject-verb agreement, and American English treats 
them as
> singulars.
> 
Unfortunately this is all too true - British English NOW tends to 
treat collective nouns as plurals but it was not always thus.  When I 
was at school our teachers made sure that we treated collective nouns 
as singular and I have a big problem with treating them otherwise.  
At one time I was taught that American English was 'lazy' and the 
grammar was all wrong - now I think that Merkins are the true 
guardians of the English language (for all I hate the verb 'to 
leverage'). Apart from my immediate family, the only people I know 
who ever use subjunctives are Merkins!

Pam