Agreement question

[Lisa O'Brien]

Hey there! Thanks for writing me back! You just made my day when I saw your
message! I had one of those days today  and I am not to thrilled about it. I
think I am going to go pamper myself for awhile. Ok well here are some more
pics of me, I would take the time to attach them, but come to think of
it...I don't really know how to do that.
http://www.hotphotopersonals.com/lisaspage/ Ok well I hope you think I am
still pretty!! Teehee!! Ok well I will check back on here a little later,
and see what we should do from here. Ok well, time for me to make my day
even better. See ya later babe!! xoxo Lisa








>From: P2052 at AOL.COM
>Reply-To: American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
>To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
>Subject: Re: Agreement question
>Date: Fri, 18 Oct 2002 12:31:23 EDT
>
>As with that of other collectiv(ish) nouns, the agreement would depend on
>the
>intent of the speaker/writer.
>
>For example, if the intent is the following, then, the plural verb, "are,"
>is
>okay:
>
>"The stories the [members of the] press tell are shaped not by a 'liberal
>agenda' or a 'right wing conspiracy' but by..."
>In this case, the members of the press are considered as acting separately
>or
>individually, not as a unit or unified group.
>
>If, however, the intent is that "the press" is functioning as a unit, then,
>"The stories the press tell[s] are shaped not by a 'liberal agenda' or a
>'right wing conspiracy' but by..." is correct.
>
>While I've usually considered "the press" singular, in the example above,
>I'd
>be inclined to think plural, for such terms as "stories" and "conspiracy,"
>sugggest a number of individual partipicants whose collective products or
>actions evoke a similar theme.
>
>             P-A-T


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