ESL General English Grammar Questions

Re: A group of students - number confusion

Kooyeen — Sun, 23 Dec 2007 17:59:24 GMT

I would have used the plural for both verbs. I was told people say "A group of children are playing", not "is playing".
I think "group" is a collective noun, and in American English it's singular: "The team is ready". In British English you might hear "The team are ready", but not in AmE.
But when collective nouns are modified by plural nouns, then everything tends to agree with the plural nouns.

So this thread really confused me... what do you guys think?

Re: A group of students - number confusion

CalifJim — Sun, 23 Dec 2007 17:18:41 GMT

If we want the relative caluse to modify the group then can we use 'which ' or 'that', and can the verb within the relative clause be singular ...?

Yes. That's right. Your sentence is correct.

CJ

Re: A group of students - number confusion

Sarangadhar — Sun, 23 Dec 2007 01:48:01 GMT

Waiting for CJ to answer

Re: A group of students - number confusion

Sarangadhar — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 21:51:26 GMT

CalifJim wrote:
<<
If there is a relative clause that moduifies the plural part of "A [singular] of [plural]", then the verb within the relative clause will be in the plural. and the main verb will be singular. Am I right?.
As corrected for faulty terminology, yes, you are right -- in a general way. There are exceptions, of course.
>>
CJ

CJ-

If we want the relative caluse to modify the group then can we use 'which ' or 'that', and can the verb within the relative clause be singular, like below?:

A group of students that/which usually does most of the social activities in New York city believes that the park needs not to be redesigned but to be returned to its former condition

Here, that/which refers to group, not the students. Am I right?

Re: A group of students - number confusion

Sarangadhar — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 07:18:47 GMT

Thanks CJ

Re: A group of students - number confusion

CalifJim — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 07:16:42 GMT

<<
If there is a ~~conjunction~~ relative clause that moduifies the plural part of "A [singular] of [plural]", then the ~~conjunction~~ verb within the relative clause will be in the plural. and the main verb will be singular. Am I right?.
As corrected for faulty terminology, yes, you are right -- in a general way. There are exceptions, of course.
>>
CJ

Re: A group of students - number confusion

Sarangadhar — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 04:53:23 GMT

Grammar Geek wrote:

See Jim's post again.

The subject is "A group of [students who have begun to clean up... City]"

believes agrees with group.

have agrees with students.

If you want the subject to be only "A group of students" then make it "A group of students has begun...City and believes... ." No "who" and a conjunction before "believes."

Ok got it, thanks. If there is a conjunction that modufies plural part of "A [singular] of [plural]", then the conjunction will be in plural. and the main verb will be singular. Am I right?.

Based on your explanaiton, can I make these sentences? Can you please let me know your thoughts on below?

The majority of students who are in final year agrees with the principal.

The majority of students agree with the principal. - based on your thesis, this should be 'agrees', however, one of the famous GMAT books say this structure is plural.

The students majority agrees with the principal.

Re: A group of students - number confusion

Grammar Geek — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 04:27:19 GMT

See Jim's post again.

The subject is "A group of [students who have begun to clean up... City]"

believes agrees with group.

have agrees with students.

If you want the subject to be only "A group of students" then make it "A group of students has begun...City and believes... ." No "who" and a conjunction before "believes."

Re: A group of students - number confusion

Sarangadhar — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 04:21:52 GMT

Sarangadhar wrote:

A group of students who have begun to clean up Frederick Law Olmstead's Morning Park in New York City believes that the park needs not to be redesigned but to be returned to its former condition

do you think above sentence is correct?

Please post the reasons also.

I believe the subject is "A group of students ". If it is singular, 'have' is wrong. If it is plural, 'believes' is wrong.

Re: A group of students - number confusion

CalifJim — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 04:01:48 GMT

It's correct.

A certain group believes that the park should be returned to its former condition.

The group is composed of students.

These students have begun to clean up the park.

CJ

A group of students - number confusion

Sarangadhar — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 02:34:56 GMT

A group of students who have begun to clean up Frederick Law Olmstead's Morning Park in New York City believes that the park needs not to be redesigned but to be returned to its former condition

do you think above sentence is correct?

Please post the reasons also.