Plurals: Is it live or lives and Is it work or works in this example?

Question

Which is correct?

The Maritime Quarter Residents' Association support and represent everyone that live and work in the Maritime Quarter.

or

The Maritime Quarter Residents' Association support and represent everyone that lives and works in the Maritime Quarter.

Welcome to ELU. What do you think, and why do you distrust it? Please add your research! — marcellothearcane, Aug 11 '17 at 15:40
FYI, everyone, despite what it means, is singular. Is everyone here? Yes, everyone is here. — John Lawler, Aug 11 '17 at 15:53
What about support(s) and represent(s)? Why am I think those should have S's? — Skooba, Aug 12 '17 at 14:13

elendee · Answer 1 · 2017-08-11T15:58:58.473

4

It's lives and works:

The Maritime Quarter Residents' Association supports and represents everyone that lives and works in the Maritime Quarter.

Everyone is singular.

I also changed 'supports' and 'represents' in reference to 'Association' which as pointed out in comments, depends mostly on whether you're speaking British or American English.

edited Aug 11 '17 at 15:58

answered Aug 11 '17 at 15:41

elendee

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Not necessarily, and not even necessarily by default. – RegDwigнt Aug 11 '17 at 15:50
Oh that's interesting.. according to that link, "Association" would more often be treated as a plural noun in Britain, and singular in America. It does sound more formal somehow to treat it as plural. – elendee Aug 11 '17 at 15:56
@RegDwigнt, elendee: Good to see the comment system working well there. I passed by this answer before even the first edit but didn't upvote - probably because I was niggled by the supports and represents bit. But if I'm honest, I'd never expect, say, The Automobile Association employ* thousands of patrolmen* (because of the associations of the word "association"! :) But I'm fine with The AA provide* a more than adequate map suitable for tourists and trampers alike.* – FumbleFingers Aug 11 '17 at 16:28
Opinions differ, obviously, but when [the] Association** (capitalised or not) is used as an unqualified proper noun, I see it as being like [the] [police] force. I can't imagine a police chief saying to his new recruits *We're an employee-friendly Police Force. Whatever support you need, the Force are with you.*** On the other hand, I found The association provide* emotional support and information to people with lymphatic cancer and to their families, carers and friends.* – FumbleFingers Aug 11 '17 at 17:14

Plurals: Is it live or lives and Is it work or works in this example?

1 Answers1