is or are?

[ChesterfieldJohn]

When watching TV shows when a couple get voted out is the correct way to say it.

The next couple to leave is .......

or

the next couple to leave are ....... ?

When I was at school I believe I was taught the second way.

Nowadays they always seem to use the first.

Over to all you highly educated people

John

[Suekersh]

Not sure how to explain why but I think is should be is as the word couple is singular.

If you were talking about couples i.e more than one couple then it should be are.

I think!

Sue

[GillD46]

Not sure how to explain why but I think is should be is as the word couple is singular.

If you were talking about couples i.e more than one couple then it should be are.

I think!

Sue

That is exactly what i was taught.

[Quizzical Bob]

Either is acceptable now that it has become common usage. Other examples are:

'the government are' or 'the government is'.
'Manchester United is a big club'
'Manchester United are considering buying a new goalkeeper'.

And so on.

[Onelife]

Hi John

If you are trying to make out you are as thick as me ...forget it...everyone knows the correct pronunciation is.... “THEM”

Regards

Keith

[ChesterfieldJohn]

Hi John

If you are trying to make out you are as thick as me ...forget it...everyone knows the correct pronunciation is.... “THEM”

Regards

Keith

Agreed

John

[jay-ell71]

A couple is singular... Two couples are plural.

the Government is

a club is

However, I AM, but, you ARE.........can't win can you.

(I suspect the punctuation is all wrong in the last sentence)

[Not so ancient mariner]

Hi John

If you are trying to make out you are as thick as me ...forget it...everyone knows the correct pronunciation is.... “THEM”

Regards

Keith

Agreed

John

Aye, that'd be reet!

[ChesterfieldJohn]

Hi John

If you are trying to make out you are as thick as me ...forget it...everyone knows the correct pronunciation is.... “THEM”

Regards

Keith

Agreed

John

Aye, that'd be reet!

Arrh dunna disagree

[Jacknian]

Don't know which is grammatically correct but 'the next couple to leave is ' just doesn't sound right when you add a couple of names after it. As you will be putting 2 names it sounds better to say ' the next couple to leave are Janet and John ' ( for example )

[ChesterfieldJohn]

Don't know which is grammatically correct but 'the next couple to leave is ' just doesn't sound right when you add a couple of names after it. As you will be putting 2 names it sounds better to say ' the next couple to leave are Janet and John ' ( for example )

I agree completely, that is exactly what I meant

John

[Mervyn and Trish]

When I worked at the BBC the guidance was that either was acceptable, so long as you were consistent in a story.

i.e. If you started with "The government is......." future reference had to be "it is", not "they are".

That did not, however, stop some writing such stuff as "Manchester United are set to sign Fred Bloggs from Sunderland. The club says it is delighted with the deal."

[CaroleF]

If you want an English teacher's opinion (and even if you don't!) it should be "is". The Government is single, one Government. I agree that in many cases "are" sounds better but it's not theoretically correct. However, there are so many things accepted these days that would not have been when I was growing up or at school. The thing that really gets me going is 'would of', 'could of' etc. I know why it happens because people say 'would've', 'should've' and over time this has been corrupted to 'of'. To me it just sounds awful. Sorry, end of rant and I know some people think it doesn't matter but when you've spent your career trying to teach children correct English it becomes second nature to be irritated when something is grammatically incorrect.

[Manoverboard]

We were, sadly, taught ' grammar ' til it came out of our ears, pity they didn't opt for effective or creative writing instead ... .

Sorry Carole but grammar for the sake of it was, in my own experience, a total waste of time.

[ChesterfieldJohn]

CaroleF

I agree completely and with OF.

John

[Mervyn and Trish]

Me too, especially when written. A moments thought would show the writer that it makes no sense, quite apart from being ungrammatic.

[Jacknian]

I agree Carole, the times I tell my grandchildren " it's not would of , it's would HAVE ! " they think I'm mad of course but it sounds dreadful.

[david63]

The use of English grammar is all about time and place. In everyday life it really does not make one jot of difference just as long as others understand it and it means what you want to say. However if you were writing a legal or academic report then the correct use of English grammar is essential.

[Kendhni]

I agree Carole, the times I tell my grandchildren " it's not would of , it's would HAVE ! " they think I'm mad of course but it sounds dreadful.

My pet hate is people who use phrases such as 'me and fred went out' ... the problem is that you can't correct the person .. because you would have to say 'Fred and I went out' ... at which point their retort would be 'you wasn't their' [sic].

In answer to the OP, as others have said, it is correct to use 'is' because there is only one couple, therefore singular. You wouldn't consider saying
'My favourite football team are ...
'May favourite band are ...'

Even if the context doesn't seem quite correct the syntax should be
'My favourite football team is The Gunners
My favourite band is Gerry and the Pacemakers
or even
My favourite band is John, Paul, George and RIngo, The Beatles.

[kaymar]

I agree Carole, the times I tell my grandchildren " it's not would of , it's would HAVE ! " they think I'm mad of course but it sounds dreadful.

My pet hate is people who use phrases such as 'me and fred went out' ... the problem is that you can't correct the person .. because you would have to say 'Fred and I went out' .. at which point their retort would be 'you wasn't their'
In answer to the OP, as others have said, it is correct to use 'is' because there is only one couple, therefore singular. You wouldn't consider saying
'My favourite football team are ...
'May favourite band are ...'

Even if the context doesn't seem quite correct the syntax should be
'My favourite football team is The Gunners
My favourite band is Gerry and the Pacemakers
or even
My favourite band is John, Paul, George and RIngo, The Beatles.

Kendhni, don't you mean - There retort would be "You wasn't their"?

[CaroleF]

MOB - the best way is when grammar is taught alongside creative writing - and that's what I used to try to do. I wouldn't advocate teaching grammar and nothing else, that's the way to put children off language completely. Language is one of the most important ways we communicate and the teaching of both grammar and creative writing should be done in a way that interests children. I expect I failed sometimes but that's what I tried to do - and so incidentally did the wonderful English teacher that I had at school in the 1960s.

Carole

[lioness]

The next couple to leave is = correct.

One couple is singular - two couples are plural.

Simples!

[Manoverboard]

The next couple to leave is = correct.

One couple is singular - two couples are plural.

Simples!

Is it ?

" The couple in the corner is a lovely couple ? "

Where is relates to a single couple ... fraid not

[jay-ell71]

My five eggs.....

I am afraid .....One couple is.......

Two couples are.......

Also ......... None is, NOT None are. because none = not one .. just to tease you.

I agree with you MOB "The couple in the couple is a lovely couple" looks and sounds clumsy, but it is correct grammar.

[Dancing Queen]

I would have said 'the couple in the corner ARE a lovely couple' and IS does sound clumsy but are we really bothered as long as we get the gist ... I'm certainly not