collective nouns? plural/singular verbs

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nancybelle

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Feb 9, 2004
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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

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nancybelle said:
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.
 

Marianopolita

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Dec 26, 2003
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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 mayor?a de las personas "piensa" or "piensan".

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


LDG.

nancybelle said:
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
 
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Marianopolita

Former Spanish forum Mod 2010-2021
Dec 26, 2003
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Chris_NJ,

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


LDG.


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

Chris_NJ

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Dec 17, 2003
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What I meant to ask if it is always singular as in "la gente" and never "las gentes."
 

Marianopolita

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Dec 26, 2003
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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.

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

mofi

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Lesley D said:
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

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Feb 9, 2004
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Grammar query

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
 

Marianopolita

Former Spanish forum Mod 2010-2021
Dec 26, 2003
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Mofi,

"gentes" or "las gentes" is used in idiomatic expressions in Spanish but I would not translate the meaning as "peoples" in English. Don't forget sometimes there is no parallel from one language to another.

examples of expressions:

"don de gentes", "dicho de las gentes" etc.


LDG.



mofi said:
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.
 
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