"Was" or "Were"?

Sane_Man · Dec 16, 2011

Okay, so I'm making my way through Stephen King's latest novel (11/22/63) and I am enjoying it.

One think that didn't sound right as I read it though. I can't remember the exact sentence, so it's slightly paraphrased.

"Some teachers was sitting over in the corner..."

Now my immediate thoughts were that surely that must be "were" instead of "was".

I noticed the same "mistake" earlier in the novel.

I'm doubting my instincts on this one. I'm thinking Stephen - and his editor - must know something I don't know.

I did some googling and read up a little on the differene between "was" and "were".

I found out that "were" is used when stating conditions that aren't fact, and the opposite for "was".

But I still don't see how the example from the Stephen King novel is correct. It sounds all sorts of wrong to my ear. If it was just "teacher" then I would say using "was" would be correct.

Can anyone shed some light on this, please?

Thanks very much in advance.

mirandashell · Dec 16, 2011

Is it in dialogue? It could be venacular.

Sane_Man · Dec 16, 2011

No, it wasn't in dialogue. Here's the sentence:

He pointed beyond the net to where a group of teachers was playing a clumsy but enthusiastic game of volleyball.

EDIT: Well I really paraphrased that haha.

mirandashell · Dec 16, 2011

Ah. He's using 'was' because he's referring to 'a group' - singular.

Doesn't sound right to me either....

Fallen · Dec 16, 2011

mirandashell said:
Ah. He's using 'was' because he's referring to 'a group' - singular.

QFT.

jaksen · Dec 16, 2011

Remove 'of the teachers.' The group were playing volleyball? Or the group was playing volleyball.

The group was.

Collective nouns are tricky things.

http://www.chompchomp.com/terms/collectivenoun.htm

Fallen · Dec 17, 2011

jaksen said:
Remove 'of the teachers.' The group were playing volleyball? Or the group was playing volleyball.

The group was.

Collective nouns are tricky things.

http://www.chompchomp.com/terms/collectivenoun.htm

Good link, jak. Thank you.

Susan Coffin · Dec 17, 2011

Sane_Man said:
No, it wasn't in dialogue. Here's the sentence:

He pointed beyond the net to where a group of teachers was playing a clumsy but enthusiastic game of volleyball.

EDIT: Well I really paraphrased that haha.

It's correct because "of teachers" is a prepositional phrase. It your remove the phrase, it would be

He pointed beyond the net to where a group [~~of teachers]~~ was playing a clumsy but enthusiastic game of volleyball.

Ferret · Dec 17, 2011

It's also helpful to note that there's a difference between American and British usage. In American English, collective nouns are usually treated as singular.

jaksen · Dec 17, 2011

In the UK, would you say the royal family is planning an event...

Or the royal family are planning an event...

I think I am still hung up on family is/family are.

bonitakale · Dec 18, 2011

jaksen said:
In the UK, would you say the royal family is planning an event...

Or the royal family are planning an event...

I think I am still hung up on family is/family are.

I'm in the US, and I'd say "are" if I were trying to sound English. Otherwise, I'd say "is."

Jamesaritchie · Dec 18, 2011

Sane_Man said:
No, it wasn't in dialogue. Here's the sentence:

He pointed beyond the net to where a group of teachers was playing a clumsy but enthusiastic game of volleyball.

EDIT: Well I really paraphrased that haha.

Hate the phrasing "group of teachers", which is probably the cause of the misunderstanding. Not very good writing.

"Was" or "Were"?

Sane_Man

mirandashell

Sane_Man

mirandashell

Fallen

Stood at the coalface

jaksen

Caped Codder

Fallen

Stood at the coalface

Susan Coffin

Tell it like it Is

Ferret

Dook!

jaksen

Caped Codder

bonitakale

Jamesaritchie