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Grammar help needed ASAP!
Staff are trained
OR
Staff is trained
?
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Posted 3/30/09 1:49 PM  |
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Long Island Weddings
Long Island's Largest Bridal Resource |
Tulips915
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Member since 8/08 6851 total posts
Name:
Me
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Re: Grammar help needed ASAP!
I think "are" b/c you are talking about more than one person.
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| Posted 3/30/09 1:50 PM |
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Re: Grammar help needed ASAP!
Posted by SB7308
I think "are" b/c you are talking about more than one person.
Hmmm - but the staff is ONE whole entity.
I'm leaning towards "is"
eta - could you say "Staff members are trained?" Would that work in the context that you are using it in?
Message edited 3/30/2009 1:56:34 PM.
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| Posted 3/30/09 1:55 PM |
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maybeamommy
Blessed beyond belief
Member since 10/07 17048 total posts
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Re: Grammar help needed ASAP!
How about "Staff members are trained..." that way there's no confusion!
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| Posted 3/30/09 1:56 PM |
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Jen2999
Baby girls & beagles rock!
Member since 8/06 10356 total posts
Name:
Jen
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Re: Grammar help needed ASAP!
Staff is a collective noun.
Here is the best way to explain it that I could find:
A collective noun is a word that describes a number of objects or people — examples include staff, group, band, and team. We know that nouns and verbs have to agree in number. For example, we know it’s wrong to say “he are” because “he” is a singular pronoun and “are” is a plural verb.
Collective nouns give us fits because they seem to be both singular and plural.
It can be even more confusing because in British usage (think of our reader in Toronto) the tendency is to make all these collective nouns plural. See, there was a reason for me to talk about the Beatles.
So what’s the solution? I’m afraid it’s another “it depends” answer.
If the collective noun (staff) is acting as a single unit, use the singular verb: “The staff is very efficient.”
If the collective noun is meant to highlight the actions of discrete individuals who are all doing different things, use the plural verb: “The staff are working on many projects for the holiday party.”
I heard a rumor that the band is performing at that party
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| Posted 3/30/09 1:56 PM |
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Re: Grammar help needed ASAP!
Posted by Jen2999
Staff is a collective noun.
Here is the best way to explain it that I could find:
A collective noun is a word that describes a number of objects or people — examples include staff, group, band, and team. We know that nouns and verbs have to agree in number. For example, we know it’s wrong to say “he are” because “he” is a singular pronoun and “are” is a plural verb.
Collective nouns give us fits because they seem to be both singular and plural.
It can be even more confusing because in British usage (think of our reader in Toronto) the tendency is to make all these collective nouns plural. See, there was a reason for me to talk about the Beatles.
So what’s the solution? I’m afraid it’s another “it depends” answer.
If the collective noun (staff) is acting as a single unit, use the singular verb: “The staff is very efficient.”
If the collective noun is meant to highlight the actions of discrete individuals who are all doing different things, use the plural verb: “The staff are working on many projects for the holiday party.”
I heard a rumor that the band is performing at that party
wow - thanks Jen!!!! I will leave it alone - I was editing a report and a line in it was "staff is trained in....."
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| Posted 3/30/09 2:34 PM |
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MissJones
I need a nap!
Member since 5/05 22136 total posts
Name:
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Re: Grammar help needed ASAP!
Use it in sentences.
The staff here IS trained.
The staff members ARE trained.
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| Posted 3/30/09 4:20 PM |
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sagapo
LIF Infant
Member since 6/07 231 total posts
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Re: Grammar help needed ASAP!
Posted by MissJones
Use it in sentences.
The staff here IS trained.
The staff members ARE trained.
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| Posted 3/30/09 5:02 PM |
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