the US and UK spell things differently and use some different words, obviously, but the main grammar difference I've noticed is this:
"That's how bad Australia were."
I'm quoting someone from this site, but I see this all the time from Brits.
Does that mean in the UK it's incorrect to write "That's how bad Australia was." ?
I'm just wondering because I think in America the first way is considered incorrect. Or is it just an accent thing and people are typing out the accent, but wouldn't actually write it that way if they were writing a paper? I've been wondering this for years.
But now that I think of it, it makes sense both ways. "Australia were great." "They were great." Or "the team was great." "Australia was great." I just never see Americans using "were" in that instance.
"That's how bad Australia were."
I'm quoting someone from this site, but I see this all the time from Brits.
Does that mean in the UK it's incorrect to write "That's how bad Australia was." ?
I'm just wondering because I think in America the first way is considered incorrect. Or is it just an accent thing and people are typing out the accent, but wouldn't actually write it that way if they were writing a paper? I've been wondering this for years.
But now that I think of it, it makes sense both ways. "Australia were great." "They were great." Or "the team was great." "Australia was great." I just never see Americans using "were" in that instance.
Jessie linked me to an ESPN article about Tottenham, and it took me a while to get used to seeing the team as singular rather than plural. "It managed to gain a Champion's League spot" etc.
---
Oh, how simply grand it is to be travelling by dirigible again. Direct us to the west good sir, tonight we will remember what it is to live.
Oh, how simply grand it is to be travelling by dirigible again. Direct us to the west good sir, tonight we will remember what it is to live.
This message last edited by Liam on 14/06/2010 at 12:48:52 PM
British grammar
- 14/06/2010 07:15:43 AM
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Entities (like nations and companies) are considered to be in the plural in British
- 14/06/2010 07:38:05 AM
341 Views
One thing I've been wondering ... for, oh, the last five or six hours...
- 14/06/2010 08:32:56 AM
623 Views
Kind of but not really any more. But it's still different in continental Europe.
- 14/06/2010 08:36:40 AM
473 Views
Originally a billion was a million million, but we've given up on that one now. *NM*
- 14/06/2010 12:32:31 PM
162 Views
it might be an accent thing, but i think "was" sounds horrible in that context
- 14/06/2010 08:38:33 AM
414 Views
It's the same with club teams as well
- 14/06/2010 11:14:56 AM
369 Views
Singular nouns denoting groups can take plural verb agreement in British English.
- 14/06/2010 12:31:25 PM
372 Views