Singular where plural in English (Collective nouns)

La famille est heureuse
The family is/are happy

La police va arrêter le criminel
The police is going to arrest the criminal.
The police are going to arrest the criminal.

In English, what we call collective nouns (e.g. family, team, police, company, ...) can be followed by a verb either in singular or plural form, depending on whether we consider the group as a single unit (singular), or as the individuals forming the group (plural).

However, these collective nouns are always followed by singular in French.

Plural where singular in English

Je vais en vacances en juillet
I'm going on holiday in July

Elle a les cheveux blonds
She has blonde hair

Note that words such as ''holiday'' (vacances) and ''hair'' (cheveux) are always plural in French. The adjectives or verbs following them are also in plural form.

Case of toilette(s)

Où sont les toilettes s’il vous plaît ?
Where is the toilet/restroom please?

Je fais ma toilette tous les matins.
I have a wash every morning.
I wash myself every morning.

Note that toilettes is always used in the plural to mean "the toilet/restroom".
La toilette (singular) in French means "a (personal) wash".

Learn more about these related French grammar topics

Singulier

Pluriel

Examples and resources

Je fais ma toilette tous les matins.
I have a wash every morning.
I wash myself every morning.

Où sont les toilettes s’il vous plaît ?
Where is the toilet/restroom please?

Plural where singular in English

Je vais en vacances en juillet
I'm going on holiday in July

Elle a les cheveux blonds
She has blonde hair

Singular where plural in English

La police va arrêter le criminel
The police is going to arrest the criminal.
The police are going to arrest the criminal.

La famille est heureuse
The family is/are happy

Q&A Forum 9 questions, 17 answers

JayC1Kwiziq community member

Understand 'les toilettes' when referring to public restrooms where there are probably more than one. But what about in homes where there is only one?

Asked 1 year ago

Like0Answer1

CécileKwiziq team memberCorrect answer

Hi Jay,

'Toilettes' is always plural in French even in the home.

Other expressions you might hear is,

le/les cabinet/s but

'les toilettes' is the most used.

'Toilette', singular, means a wash.

Le chat fait sa toilette = The cat is having a wash

Hope this helps!

Like01 year ago

Jay asked:View original

Understand 'les toilettes' when referring to public restrooms where there are probably more than one. But what about in homes where there is only one?

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PaulC1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Prescriptive versus descriptive English

I read the Q&A for this lesson on collective nouns and the discussion at https://kwiziq.learnfrenchwithalexa.com/is-this-english-correct and I see where Kwiziq is coming from. However, it would clearer for many Engliish speakers if you left out the "how it is in English" versus "how it is in French" comparisons. There are too many interpretations of collective nouns in different forms of English, and many of us haven't learnt the English prescriptions, so we are probably making frequent mistakes in English. In other words, just give teach the French grammar.

Asked 1 year ago

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Paul asked:View original

Prescriptive versus descriptive English

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Mary AnneC1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Statement about collective nouns in English

Collective nouns, such as family, team, and company are singular. The pronoun that would refer to these particular nouns is "it." A speaker may change to "they" but the speakers would be referring to family members, players, or employees. One would right, "A spokesperson for the company announced that it is profitable."

Asked 2 years ago

Like1Answer4

RonC1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Bonsoir Mary Anne, Here is a reply from Aurélie dated 6 May 2016 that may provide more insight: «When talking in a general context, French people would use the term la police rather than la gendarmerie, as such: La police va arrêter le criminel. Actually, as a French speaker, I find that la gendarmerie refers more to the station than the people. In this case, we would rather use les gendarmes when talking about them, so the following answer is also correct: Les gendarmes vont arrêter le criminel.» I do agree with your observation: «my family, yes, they are well. . » My guess is that you are from the US based on your choice of pronouns in these examples. I am unaware of how other English speaking countries speak using pronouns in discussing these subjects. A very good point.

Like02 years ago

Mary AnneC1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Yes. I am from the US. Interesting. I think we would say, "The family is good. The complement of a verb of "being" is a predicate adjective. "The food is good; the movie was good."

Like02 years ago

RichardC1Kwiziq community member

Being English, I would agree that we should say ‘the family is’, ‘the management wants’ etc, but many people do make the mistake of using the plural verb. However, I also agree that you could answer ‘they are well’, referring to the family members, when asked ‘how’s the family’.

BUT - I think it’s a grave mistake for Kwizical/Lawless French to say ‘the family are’! I’m not being overly pedantic, I think.

Like03 months ago

Mary AnneC1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

I can't believe I wrote "right" when I meant "write." Oh , dear!

Like03 months ago

Mary Anne asked:View original

Statement about collective nouns in English

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MichaelC1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Better quiz question

For this quiz, I suggest giving English sentences and multiple French translations. For example: The police arrived to late 1. Les polices sont arrivés trop tard. 2. Le police est arrivé trop tard. 3. La police sont arrivé trop tard. 4. La police est arrivée trop tard. Je propose aussi d'ajouter une deuxième question. Peut être: She brushed her long golden hair. Or Where are the rest rooms?

Asked 2 years ago

Like-1Answer1

RonC1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Bonjour Michael, I am uncertain about the first part of your suggestion regarding English sentences and multiple French translations; however, I do agree with your second proposition to add a second question on the lesson. I have been curious for some time now when I come across a lesson that has but one question, the reasoning behind it. In fact, I would further add that it would possibly be advantageous to have three questions on the quizzes at the end of each lesson, in order to have a better grasp of my understanding of the material. J'espère que ma réponse vous aidera. Bonne chance et bonne continuation dans vos études en français, la langue de Molière.

Like02 years ago

Michael asked:View original

Better quiz question

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AlisonC1Kwiziq community member

Not sure that you would ever say the police is coming!

Asked 2 years ago

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GruffKwiziq team member

Hi Alison - where did you read "the police is coming"?

Like02 years ago

AlisonC1Kwiziq community member

I didnt actually read the police is coming but I did read your translation of "The police is going to arrest the criminal.The police are going to arrest the criminal."

Like12 years ago

GruffKwiziq team member

Oh I see. Yes, that's not a brilliant example of police in the singular. Certainly in the UK, these days we would tend to add 'force' or 'officer' if the plurality of the noun in context needed clarification. "The police [force] is considering legal action...] The police [officers] are considering legal action".

Like12 years ago

Alison asked:View original

Not sure that you would ever say the police is coming!

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ErikaC1Kwiziq community member

Plural where singular in French?

It has the example hair (singular) - les cheveux (plural) Shouldn't that be: Plural where singular in English?

Asked 2 years ago

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GruffKwiziq team member

Thanks Erika - I've fixed that in the lesson.

Like02 years ago

Erika asked:View original

Plural where singular in French?

It has the example hair (singular) - les cheveux (plural) Shouldn't that be: Plural where singular in English?

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GarethA2Kwiziq community member

Is text above correct?

Is says that words such as holiday and hair are plural in french. The VERBS that follow them are also plural. Should this not read adjectives?

Asked 2 years ago

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GruffKwiziq team member

Thanks for pointing that out Gareth - fixed!

Like02 years ago

Gareth asked:View original

Is text above correct?

Is says that words such as holiday and hair are plural in french. The VERBS that follow them are also plural. Should this not read adjectives?

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JohnC1Kwiziq community member

La police/la gendarmerie? a subtle distinction?

Asked 3 years ago

Like0Answer1

AurélieKwiziq team memberCorrect answer

Bonjour John,

Thanks for your question!

When talking in a general context, French people would use the term la police rather than la gendarmerie, as such:
La police va arrêter le criminel.

Actually, as a French speaker, I find that la gendarmerie refers more to the station than the people.
In this case, we would rather use les gendarmes when talking about them, so the following answer is also correct:
Les gendarmes vont arrêter le criminel.

I hope that's helpful.

Merci et à bientôt !

Like33 years ago

John asked:View original

La police/la gendarmerie? a subtle distinction?

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StephenB2Kwiziq community member

I think family is singular in English.

Asked 3 years ago

Like2Answer5

LauraKwiziq team member

Bonjour Stephen, We get a lot of questions about things like this. Some English speakers say "the family is" while others say "the family are." You can read our policy here: https://www.french-test.com/is-this-english-correct

Like23 years ago

RevathiA1Kwiziq community member

Yes, you are right it is Family in singular and families in plural

Like13 years ago

JimA2Kwiziq community member

As I understand it, it is a distinction between American and British English. American English treats most collective nouns as singular, with exceptions like "police" and "people," which use plural verbs. I have to say, my American ears strongly object to "the family are." If I were to say it, I am pretty sure Mrs. Holden, my sixth grade grammar teacher, would turn over in her grave.

Like11 year ago

RichardC1Kwiziq community member

Agree totally!

Like03 months ago

RichardC1Kwiziq community member

Whether some people say ‘ the family is’ and some say ‘the family are’ is irrelevant. It is incorrect to say ‘the family are’. The fact that some people are wrong does not make it right!

Like03 months ago

Stephen asked:View original