→ dashihito:在英式英文中會強調團體中的各個成員,而以複數視之,但08/05 16:18
→ dashihito:美式英文中多以單數視之。08/05 16:19
以上推文內容出自於:
詹慕如譯,Karl R. Twohig著,《英式英語生活小酒館》(台北:博識圖書,2006年),
頁30。
裏頭提到英式英文與美式美語在文法上的差異,如下:
8) 集合名詞
 ̄ ̄ ̄ ̄ ̄ ̄
在英式英文中會強調團體中的各個成員,而以複數視之,但美式英語多以單數視之。
書中剛好也舉例出與原po疑義相符的例句:
英:The Government are trying to pass the bill.
美:The Government is trying to pass the bill.
(政府正打算通過此項法案。)
另外的例句也附上給予參考:
英:The committee are resigned to the fact.
美:The committee is resigned to the fact.
(委員會接受了這個事實。)
既然原po的例句出自於Cambridge Idioms Dictionary
因此會用"a government who 'have' failed..."應該也不難看出端倪了。
供參考:)
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◆ From: 140.122.53.14
※ 編輯: dashihito 來自: 140.122.53.14 (08/06 11:17)
推 daouz:However, where we use a singular noun that can be though 08/07 02:01
→ daouz:thought of as either a whole unit or acollection of 08/07 02:02
→ daouz:individuals, we can use either a singular or plural verb 08/07 02:02
→ daouz:Some 80 per cent of the electorate is expected to vote. 08/07 02:02
→ daouz:(or ... are expected ... ) 08/07 02:02
→ daouz:Advanced Grammar in Use 3rd, p84 Unit42-D 08/07 02:04
推 daouz:看到是Cambridge,順便幫忙補充 08/07 02:06