need help from you english majors out there

[rkell87]

I'm doing a group project, and my group and i got into an argument over is/are usage. the sentence is:


our headquarters is/are located in san marcos

they say that 'is' is correct, i say are.

i know you use is for a singular subject, and are for plural but i say the 's' on headquarters makes it plural even though we are talking about a singular place.

 

[CanadianCowboysFan]

I'm doing a group project, and my group and i got into an argument over is/are usage. the sentence is:


our headquarters is/are located in san marcos

they say that 'is' is correct, i say are.

i know you use is for a singular subject, and are for plural but i say the 's' on headquarters makes it plural even though we are talking about a singular place.

Should be "are"

 

[CliffnDallas]

Should be "are"

You are correct.

 

[bbgun]

I'd go with "is." "Headquarters" to me is a singular noun because I'm envisioning a building.

 

[CowboyMcCoy]

I'd go with "is." "Headquarters" to me is a singular noun because I'm envisioning a building.

It's is...

 

[vta]

Uh oh, this is getting complicated. :laugh2:

Maybe it should read our office is located... and just play it safe.

 

[rkell87]

I'd go with "is." "Headquarters" to me is a singular noun because I'm envisioning a building.

thats what my group says, but the 's' to me makes it plural. but i guess headquarters is one of those words that is both singular and plural.

our headquarters is... just doesnt sound right to me

 

[Idgit]

'Headquarters' is plural. Wait, are plural.

 

[rkell87]

Uh oh, this is getting complicated. :laugh2:

Maybe it should read our office is located... and just play it safe.

lol that may be an option

 

[bbgun]

thats what my group says, but the 's' to me makes it plural. but i guess headquarters is one of those words that is both singular and plural.

our headquarters is... just doesnt sound right to me

"Headquarters" isn't plural because there's no such noun as "headquarter." Just ignore the "s."

 

[Wimbo]

Dictionary: head·quar·ters (hĕd'kwôr'tərz)

Home > Library > Literature & Language > Dictionary

</SPAN itxtvisited="1">
pl.n. (used with a sing. or pl. verb)

• The offices of a commander, as of a military unit, from which orders are issued.
• A center of operations or administration: The company has its headquarters in the suburbs. See synonyms at center.

USAGE NOTE The noun headquarters is used with either a singular or a plural verb. The plural is more common: The corporation's headquarters are in Boston. But when reference is to authority rather than to physical location, many people prefer the singular: Division headquarters has approved the new benefits package.

 

[rkell87]

The corporation's headquarters are in Boston



this is the same situation in my question right? used as the plural form even though it is referencing a singular location?

 

[theogt]

I'd go with "is." "Headquarters" to me is a singular noun because I'm envisioning a building.

It's a singular noun just like "pants".

 

[CowboyMcCoy]

The corporation's headquarters are in Boston



this is the same situation in my question right? used as the plural form even though it is referencing a singular location?

Yeah, like your pants are on the ground.

 

[rkell87]

Yeah, like your pants are on the ground.

[youtube]tMwhl4IrPNc[/youtube]

 

[rkell87]

thanks guys for your help, I'm getting that the consensus is that i was right and that it should be 'are', agreed?

 

[bbgun]

thanks guys for your help, I'm getting that the consensus is that i was right and that it should be 'are', agreed?

http://img168.*************/img168/5295/1060v1ejpg.gif

IS!

 

[Wimbo]

thanks guys for your help, I'm getting that the consensus is that i was right and that it should be 'are', agreed?

The noun headquarters is used with either a singular or a plural verb. The plural is more common

 

[rkell87]

http://img168.*************/img168/5295/1060v1ejpg.gif

IS!

lol but the usage that was posted said 'are'

 

[WoodysGirl]

Even though you could probably use both, I'd go with "Our headquarters are..."

Just my two pence