Concord With Collective Nouns
Distinguish singular collective agreement from the semantic plural agreement available in some partitive phrases.
How It Works
La majoria dels assistents can be viewed through the singular head majoria or through the plural people counted. Both la majoria dels assistents ha votat and la majoria dels assistents han votat occur in standard usage. Similar choices arise with expressions such as un gran nombre de.
An ordinary collective singular such as l'alumnat normally takes singular agreement: l'alumnat participa. A partitive expression such as la majoria dels alumnes has an additional plural complement and can allow semantic plural agreement. Keep these categories separate. If a sentence strongly foregrounds individual people, les persones participants or els alumnes may be clearer than switching an ordinary collective subject unpredictably between singular and plural predicates.
Examples (3)
- L’alumnat participa en la reunió.
The student body takes part in the meeting.
- La majoria dels assistents han intervingut.
Most of the attendees have spoken.
- La gent espera a fora.
People are waiting outside.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Distinguish a partitive quantity subject from an ordinary collective singular.
Related Patterns
Practice Concord With Collective Nouns in Bubblegum
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