Are, or Is?
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Topic: Are, or Is?
Posted By: Shakespeare
Subject: Are, or Is?
Date Posted: August 13 2007 at 19:49
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When referring to a band, for example, Mr. Bungle, do you say: Mr. Bungle is a really great band. or do you say Mr. Bungle are are really great band. I have seen both ways very often - particularly in reviews. Is one way grammatically correct? Which way do you prefer? |
Replies:
Posted By: Bj-1
Date Posted: August 13 2007 at 19:51
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I use both actually, for some reason. ------------- RIO/AVANT/ZEUHL - The best thing you can get with yer pants on! |
Posted By: Shakespeare
Date Posted: August 13 2007 at 19:53
| Sorry that I didn't make both a choice. |
Posted By: el böthy
Date Posted: August 13 2007 at 21:23
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Is... are just doesnt sound right... but then again, who am I, Mr English??
------------- "You want me to play what, Robert?" 
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Posted By: sircosick
Date Posted: August 13 2007 at 21:29
I always use IS, but just for a matter of following the main english rules that they teach me in the school  My english keeps remaining rather limited. Anyway, a neccesary poll for those who don't speak english as a native language; it was always a doubt for me, and didn't know that you english people also has that language detail..... xD
------------- The best you can is good enough... |
Posted By: The Doctor
Date Posted: August 13 2007 at 21:29
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I think it's actually "be" as in "Genesis be a mad band, yo!" ------------- I can understand your anger at me, but what did the horse I rode in on ever do to you? |
Posted By: VanderGraafKommandöh
Date Posted: August 13 2007 at 22:05
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I always say "are" myself. When referring to an individual artist, I refer to them as an "is". A band consists of members, so therefore a band consists of "is's", so therefore a band is referred as an "are". Actually, both can be used. VdGG is a great band. VdGG are great. Both are correct. Because I mention the world "band", I can say "is a", rather than "are a". -------------   
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Posted By: thellama73
Date Posted: August 13 2007 at 22:31
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I use IS if the band name is singular "Genesis is" and ARE if it is plural "the Beatles are." Although occassionally I do slip up. I remember the first time I saw ARE used with a singular band name it blew my little mind. It was on a Queen greatest hits CD and it said "Queen are Freddie Mercury, Brian May, Roger Taylor and John Deacon." That just sounds wrong.
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Posted By: The Miracle
Date Posted: August 14 2007 at 00:10
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I use are just because I like it more. As james said, there's no particular grammar rule for it, it works both ways.
------------- http://www.last.fm/user/ocellatedgod" rel="nofollow - last.fm |
Posted By: Abstrakt
Date Posted: August 14 2007 at 03:21
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It is excellent
They are Excellent
I use both, depends on the sentance for me
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Posted By: Vompatti
Date Posted: August 14 2007 at 03:28
| I'd rather say "King Crimson is a great band" than "King Crimson are a great band", but on the other hand I would never say "It has recorded some great albums." That said, I use both, depending on the sentence. |
Posted By: Ricochet
Date Posted: August 14 2007 at 03:56
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there was a thread like that before.
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Posted By: laplace
Date Posted: August 14 2007 at 04:00
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Mr. Bungle am a great band.
------------- FREEDOM OF SPEECH GO TO HELL |
Posted By: Sean Trane
Date Posted: August 14 2007 at 05:10
I use Word to write my reviews and use the English (UK) dictionary for correction, and it always gives a green underline below are and propopse is. I prefer "are" even if the name of theband propses it as a single unit (threfore "is"), but I can't help but feeling of a group as a collection of individuals which cannot be reduced as a single unit >> therefore I use "are" ------------- let's just stay above the moral melee prefer the sink to the gutter keep our sand-castle virtues content to be a doer as well as a thinker, prefer lifting our pen rather than un-sheath our sword |
Geck0 wrote:Posted By: Dean
Date Posted: August 14 2007 at 06:52
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I try and stick to "are" for a band, group or collective and "is for an individual but occasionally lapse if I'm in a hurry and not thinking - as others have pointed out some times it just sounds wrong, but that does not make it wrong.
Band names that are singlular out of context, like Queen, are still a collective and should be plural - "Queen is Freddie Mercury, Brian May, Roger Taylor and John Deacon" sounds even more wrong because it is wrong, whereas "The Queen is Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor" is correct.
Vompatti inadvertantly suggested the test - if you can substitute the name for "it" or "he" or "she" then use "is", but if "they" is the only suitable replacement then it has to be "are" - there are no exceptions - if you substitute "he" for "Mr Bungle" and still think that 'is' is appropriate then it suggests to the reader that you do not know who "they" "are"
 ------------- What? |
Posted By: Shakespeare
Date Posted: August 14 2007 at 09:56
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Posted By: Shakespeare
Date Posted: August 14 2007 at 10:01
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The bio in the booklet/poster of the Ultimate Yes: 35th Anniversary Collection begins with the line: "Yes are one of the finest bands to emerge from the golden age of rock." That sounds a bit strange to me. |
Posted By: 1800iareyay
Date Posted: August 14 2007 at 10:05
| Are is grammatically correct, even though it sounds bizarre. I still use is because people look at you funny when you say are |
Posted By: Ely78
Date Posted: August 14 2007 at 10:11
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In Italian is "Is" because band or group is only singular. But I prefer the variant that in English group or band is a group of person. For these reason I use are. I don't speak only for me because Mandrakeroot is in my line of thinking.
------------- When the love becomes poetry, distant from the eyes (Quando l'Amore Diventa poesia/ Lontano Dagli occhi [Aphrodite's Child) |
Posted By: Philéas
Date Posted: August 14 2007 at 22:52
| I'd say "Genesis is a great band" but "Genesis are making great music". If the word band is in there somewhere, I tend to use "is", I think. It depends... |
Posted By: VanderGraafKommandöh
Date Posted: August 15 2007 at 12:20
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Yep, that's how I use it as well, Philéas. As you say, if "band" is mentioned, I would say "King Crimson is a great band", but without the "band" part, it would be "King Crimson are great". A band is usually a group of people, so "is", is referring to a singular band, in this case, named "King Crimson". However, "are" is used in the latter sentence, because it is not clear whether we are referring to a band, or an individual. So I would write "are", rather than "is", to clearly show I am referring to a band (a group of individuals, so several "is's"), rather than a single artist named "King Crimson". -------------
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Posted By: Jim Garten
Date Posted: August 15 2007 at 12:32
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True - depends on the context:
The members of Genesis are great musicians Genesis is a great band Phil Collins is a short fat baldy wan (cont p97) ------------- 
Jon Lord 1941 - 2012 |
Posted By: VanderGraafKommandöh
Date Posted: August 15 2007 at 12:35
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An excerpt of page 97: ker. -------------
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Posted By: Jim Garten
Date Posted: August 15 2007 at 12:38
  -------------
Jon Lord 1941 - 2012 |
Posted By: VanderGraafKommandöh
Date Posted: August 15 2007 at 12:43
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It had to be said. -------------
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Posted By: Jim Garten
Date Posted: August 16 2007 at 03:51
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I'd make similar comments about James LaBrie's live vocal style too... eg:
Individual members of Dream Theater are great musicians Dream Theater is a fairly good band James LaBrie is under the mistaken impression his live vocals don't sound like a small puppy being castrated with a rusty razor whilst being hit repeatedly over the head with a large bratwurst. That is, I would make such comments, but wouldn't dream of doing so on a public forum -------------
Jon Lord 1941 - 2012 |
Posted By: Jim Garten
Date Posted: August 16 2007 at 03:51
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I just did, didn't I?
Sorry. -------------
Jon Lord 1941 - 2012 |
Posted By: cookieacquired
Date Posted: August 20 2007 at 17:24
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I say is but I think both are correct ------------- 
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Posted By: purplepiper
Date Posted: August 20 2007 at 23:28
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you must use 'is'. The band is referred to as a single entity, a single noun. Although the band consists of several members, there is only one band being refered to. I'm pretty sure that it is grammatically incorrect to use 'are'. I cannot confirm this, but I am an English major. Hopefully, I know what i'm talking about... ------------- for those about to prog, we salute you. |
Posted By: The Doctor
Date Posted: August 20 2007 at 23:31
I would agree with you, and almost wrote the same thing, but then, what about a band like The Beatles. Surely you would not say "The Beatles is..." ------------- I can understand your anger at me, but what did the horse I rode in on ever do to you? |
Posted By: Shakespeare
Date Posted: August 23 2007 at 20:27
I will saying "The beatles is" all a times. |
Posted By: Hyperborea
Date Posted: August 23 2007 at 20:44
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Are is plural, is is single.....how simple can it be. ------------- As i race o'er this beautiful sphere, Like a dog who is chasing his..... |