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Was or Were

  • 01-05-2011 2:37pm
    #1
    Orion101
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 143 ✭✭


    Hello,

    Can someone advise on which of the following is correct?

    The GAA was persuaded to reconsider... (doesn't sound right, but the GAA is a collective noun)

    The GAA were persuaded to reconsider...

    I should ad that this is for a US English piece.

    Thanks!


Comments

  • #2
    sara_q
    Closed Accounts Posts: 40 ✭sara_q


    As far as I know the verb will be singular if the collective i.e the GAA, is acting as a single group. So, the word is was


  • #3
    MathsManiac
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,595 ✭✭✭MathsManiac


    In making the singular/plural decision in relation to collective nouns, American writers lean more towards the singular in toss-up cases. This is all the more reason to stick with singular in this case.

    So I agree with sara-q's recommendation.


  • #4
    13spanner
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,006 ✭✭✭13spanner


    Agree with both of the above, i'd go for ''was''


  • #5
    sara_q
    Closed Accounts Posts: 40 ✭sara_q


    A+. We 3 are brilliant :)


  • #6
    pickarooney
    Moderators, Arts Moderators Posts: 35,738 Mod ✭✭✭✭pickarooney


    "Was" for US English ("were" for UK/Irish English).


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  • #7
    Donkey Oaty
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,533 ✭✭✭Donkey Oaty


    Context is everything. Consider this:

    The GAA was founded in 1884.

    If you ring the GAA, they'll tell you when the next match is on.

    "What do you think of the GAA?"
    "I hate it. It's an awful organisation."

    "What do you think of the GAA?"
    "I hate them. They're awful people."


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