collective nouns? plural/singular verbs

[nancybelle]

Hi, y'all, I have a question for the grammar gurus. If you are referring to all the family--as in "toda la familia"--should the verb be singular or plural? Toda la familia es o toda la familia son. . .
Gracias,
Nancy Bell

[juancarlos]

Originally Posted by nancybelle

Hi, y'all, I have a question for the grammar gurus. If you are referring to all the family--as in "toda la familia"--should the verb be singular or plural? Toda la familia es o toda la familia son. . .
Gracias,
Nancy Bell

Singular. Toda la familia es... Of course, I've heard people say: Toda la familia son personas inteligentes. That's the way people talk sometimes. But it's not right and does not sound right.

[Lesley D]

Nancybelle,

The grammatically correct usage is "singular".

There are many examples:

"la gente" es (but in English "people" are)

Here is another common mistake with the same concept:

La mayoría de las personas "piensa" or "piensan".

La concordancia es con "la mayoría" [de las personas] piensa. BUT you will see "piensan". Common error in newspapers, when speaking etc.


LDG.

Originally Posted by nancybelle

Hi, y'all, I have a question for the grammar gurus. If you are referring to all the family--as in "toda la familia"--should the verb be singular or plural? Toda la familia es o toda la familia son. . .
Gracias,
Nancy Bell

[Chris_NJ]

Originally Posted by Lesley D

"la gente" es (but in English "people" are)

So "gente" is always singular? I have been wondering about this.

[stewart]

Originally Posted by Chris_NJ

So "gente" is always singular? I have been wondering about this.

Affirmative

[Lesley D]

Chris_NJ,

Once the noun is singular such as "la gente" the verb could only be "singular".


LDG.

Originally Posted by Chris_NJ

So "gente" is always singular? I have been wondering about this.

[Chris_NJ]

What I meant to ask if it is always singular as in "la gente" and never "las gentes."

[Lesley D]

Chris_NJ,

The usage is possible. In my opinion limited. I come across "las gentes" in literature but can't recall too often in conversation. May be others will comment.

LDG.

Originally Posted by Chris_NJ

What I meant to ask if it is always singular as in "la gente" and never "las gentes."

[mofi]

Originally Posted by Lesley D

Chris_NJ,

The usage is possible. In my opinion limited. I come across "las gentes" in literature but can't recall too often in conversation. May be others will comment.

LDG.

I don't think i have ever heard anyone say "las gentes" well speaking....Its kind of like saying "the peoples" in english, which doesn't get said often.

[nancybelle]

Thanks for your help. I think I am trying to learn too much too quickly and all the rules are running together. I appreciate your help.
Nancy Bell