By American English, Constructions

CJ, can I generalize your answer to all passive constructions like He could have been trampled/killed/run over/shot/kicked. He could have got trampled/killed/run over/shot/kicked. He could have gotten trampled/killed/run over/shot/kicked. No significant difference except that with gotten...

Yes. American English tends to use the singular for this type of construction, but if you are thinking of the the board members as acting inidivdually, then you can use have.

Usage Note: A traditional usage rule draws a distinction between comparisons using as . . . as and comparisons using so . . . as. The rule states the so . . . as construction is required in negative sentences (as in Shakespeare's "'tis not so deep as a well"), in questions (as...

If this sentence originated in the U.S., then failure to make the number (that is, the singularity or plurality) of the pronoun (in this case "their") match the number of the noun (in this case ''seller") is the result of what is termed "political correctness."...

These are all acceptable ways of phrasing these sentences in colloquial American English. In more formal, careful English the use of "like" and "how" as subordinate conjunctions (Do it how I told you. Do it like I told you. And so forth) would not be as acceptable--meaning that the other...

Milky wrote: CalifJim wrote:A native tells me that it does occur in such as the second example. The native must have misunderstood the question. Does it No., and if it does, why? And is it widespread? No."gonna" has to be followed by a verb. London isn't a verb!I'm gonna London is totally...

CalifJim wrote:A native tells me that it does occur in such as the second example. The native must have misunderstood the question. Does it No., and if it does, why? And is it widespread? No."gonna" has to be followed by a verb. London isn't a verb!I'm gonna London is totally...

In American English the tendency is to use the singular in these constructions. There is a set of rules that govern(s) the school. (the set governs; the rules govern - It depends what you want to emphasize in the relative clause.) A set of rules that govern(s) the school is our...