EnglishTrackWorld
 

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[Closed] EnglishTrackWorld

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Does one say 'the team were tired' or 'the team was tired'? The first looks right, though team is singular we know it's a group of people.

Just curious, not losing sleep, failing exams, or at risk of being booted out of the golf club over it, thanks.


 
Posted : 15/09/2013 1:21 pm
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He, She, It = Was(n't)

They, We, You = Were(n't)


 
Posted : 15/09/2013 1:38 pm
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Team unpacks into a group...


 
Posted : 15/09/2013 1:39 pm
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The tea was tired as you are treating the team as an individual
the [whole] team was tired
If you split them into parts then
Some [members] of the team were tired


 
Posted : 15/09/2013 1:54 pm
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Could work either way, "the team (single unit) was tired", or "the team (of people) were tired".

The North American thing is awful though: "and the next highlight, England scores", or "Man United is really tired here". Just grates in every way


 
Posted : 15/09/2013 1:55 pm
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Would you say,"the police is involved" or "the police are involved"? Former sounds odd, doesn't it?

I think you can use both in English, depending on whether you want to place importance on the individuals or unit.

I also think that in speaking we favour are/were because the schwa is a "lazy" sound.


 
Posted : 15/09/2013 2:25 pm

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