Grammar question. I have to know.

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Nebben

Senior member
May 20, 2004
706
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If you're talking about a band, and trying to say that the members of said band do something, or are releasing something, or whatever, do you say:

1) My Morning Jacket is popular on my current playlist

or

2) My Morning Jacket are popular on my current playlist

I'm inclined to say 1 is correct, because although the band has multiple members, the band is an entity in itself and as such is a singular object, and should stay that way. But I ALWAYS see 2 used in music reviews and articles and the like, and it always irks me. Is my being irked warranted, or am I wrong?



Also... I usually say something like "The members of [band] are some of the most talented musicians I've ever heard"

But I often see things like "Tool are some of the best musicians ever." Which sounds SO WRONG but it's commonly done in many prominent music mags and websites. What the hell? Do all these people suck at writing/grammar or am I just misinformed?

 
A

amol

Lifer
Jul 8, 2001
11,679
1
0
one band = singular (at least in American English)

I've been to England and I've heard them do it plurally, but in the US, it's singular
 
jamesbond007

jamesbond007

Diamond Member
Dec 21, 2000
5,280
0
71
In My Morning Jacket, jacket is singular, thus, just use "is". For instance, you would say "Jefferson Airplane is a great band" and not "Jefferson Airplane are a good band" despite the band consisting of several members.
 
sixone

sixone

Lifer
May 3, 2004
25,030
4
61
Originally posted by: jamesbond007
In My Morning Jacket, jacket is singular, thus, just use "is". For instance, you would say "Jefferson Airplane is a great band" and not "Jefferson Airplane are a good band" despite the band consisting of several members.
Click to expand...

Ummmm.....no. You are talking about one band, so your sentence is right. You could also say Guns and Roses is a good band, if you're so inclined (and I'm not, so drop it, okay?). Members are good, a group is good. See?

 
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Nebben

Senior member
May 20, 2004
706
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0
Originally posted by: jamesbond007
In My Morning Jacket, jacket is singular, thus, just use "is". For instance, you would say "Jefferson Airplane is a great band" and not "Jefferson Airplane are a good band" despite the band consisting of several members.
Click to expand...

See, this is a complicated issue, and I can't seem to find anything of value when searching. While 'a band' is ALWAYS singular, you have to decide between using are/is based on the fact that 'a band' is singular, or based on the qualities of the name of the band.

I opt, and have always opted, for the former. 'A band' is a singular object, and should always get a singular verb. But I feel I'm a minority when I read so many editorials about bands and they go with 'are'.

Anyway, I'm not in serious mental trouble over this, I just enjoy debates about grammar. It's fun.
 
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Nebben

Senior member
May 20, 2004
706
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0
I'm thinking about other examples of this type of thing, and I'm convinced that a band should always be referred to as a singular object.

Example:

The United States is a young country. ['The United States' seems plural, but it is a single entity]

Great Britain is an older country. ['Great Britain' seems singular, and is singular.]

 
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Nebben

Senior member
May 20, 2004
706
0
0
It doesn't even sound wrong to me. Many things that are correct do, since I grew up in North Dakota :(

But this one I've always just naturally said this way.

So why are all these journalism majors writing incorrectly on Pitchfork? I must write a letter to the editor. Or maybe not.
 
W

walla

Senior member
Jun 2, 2001
987
0
0
SINGULAR:

My Flaming Pants rocks my socks.

PLURAL:

My Flaming Pants are flaming idiots.


I think both are acceptable, it just depends if you are refering to the band as one entity, or the band as multiple entities.
 
W

walla

Senior member
Jun 2, 2001
987
0
0
Originally posted by: TerryMathews
The Beatles is number 1 doesn't work though...
Click to expand...

It's grammatically correct, however.

Just because a band has the creative license to make up their own name does not give them the right to violate the laws of the English language!!! :)

 
jamesbond007

jamesbond007

Diamond Member
Dec 21, 2000
5,280
0
71
Originally posted by: sixone
Originally posted by: jamesbond007
In My Morning Jacket, jacket is singular, thus, just use "is". For instance, you would say "Jefferson Airplane is a great band" and not "Jefferson Airplane are a good band" despite the band consisting of several members.
Click to expand...

Ummmm.....no. You are talking about one band, so your sentence is right. You could also say Guns and Roses is a good band, if you're so inclined (and I'm not, so drop it, okay?). Members are good, a group is good. See?
Click to expand...

Not sure what you stated that I didn't already know...but anyways. :p

Nebben, hello from ND! :)
 
jamesbond007

jamesbond007

Diamond Member
Dec 21, 2000
5,280
0
71
Originally posted by: Nebben
Whoa, I'm not the only one from this state on these forums.

Hi. :)
Click to expand...

Hah, not by a long shot man! There's a good...5 or so others that I know! :laugh:
 
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Nebben

Senior member
May 20, 2004
706
0
0
Anyone from Bismarck? Other than me.

I may be heading over your way to Fargo this weekend to stock up on beer from Happy Harry's. Yeah, it's a little ridiculous to drive 2 1/2 hours just for that, but I also really enjoy driving and this week needs a stress reliever. The selection here just doesn't cut it... I like to go over there and get a variety to store for the season. Mmmm.. Rogue.

For whatever stupid reason, the places here just won't carry Rogue stuff. Even though they're based in Oregon and they have to travel DIRECTLY THROUGH our city to get to Fargo.

:/
 
Mo0o

Mo0o

Lifer
Jul 31, 2001
24,227
3
76
Depends on what the band calls themselves

Aerosmith (singular)
The Killers (plural)

Aereosmith is a popular band
The Killers are a popular band

Atleast thats how i think about it
 
Mrvile

Mrvile

Lifer
Oct 16, 2004
14,066
1
0
Ok think about this:

Tenacious D writes the best songs. (singular)
The Tenacious D write the best songs. (plural)

o_O
 
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Nebben

Senior member
May 20, 2004
706
0
0
Originally posted by: Mo0o
Depends on what the band calls themselves

Aerosmith (singular)
The Killers (plural)

Aereosmith is a popular band
The Killers are a popular band

Atleast thats how i think about it
Click to expand...

From the affirmation obtained on this thread, I am now confident that you are wrong. No offense.

But you do not base the singular/plural decision on the name of the band, you base it on the fact that it is a band. One band. A single band.

If you are ever going to use 'are' you would have to say something like "Hoobastank and Good Charlotte are some of the worst bands of the last decade."

Which is a damn true statement.
 
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Nebben

Senior member
May 20, 2004
706
0
0
The moral of the story? Name your band with a singular term, and avoid the confusion. :p
 
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