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
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".
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
Elle a les cheveux blonds
She has blonde hair
Je vais en vacances en juillet
I'm going on holiday in July
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
Ron
Kwiziq community member
19/09/17
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.
Mary Anne
Kwiziq community member
20/09/17
Michael
Kwiziq community member
8 September 2017
1 reply
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?
Ron
Kwiziq community member
14/09/17
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.
Gruff
Kwiziq language super star
25/07/17
alison
Kwiziq community member
25/07/17
"The police is going to arrest the criminal.The police are going to arrest the criminal."
Gruff
Kwiziq language super star
25/07/17
Gruff
Kwiziq language super star
22/03/17
Gruff
Kwiziq language super star
4/03/17
John
Kwiziq community member
6 May 2016
1 reply
La police/la gendarmerie? a subtle distinction?
Aurélie
Kwiziq language super star
6/05/16
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 !
Stephen
Kwiziq community member
25 November 2015
3 replies
I think family is singular in English.
Laura
Kwiziq language super star
25/11/15
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
Revathi
Kwiziq community member
26/11/15
Jim
Kwiziq community member
22/04/18
Paul
Kwiziq community member
14 May 2018
0 replies
Prescriptive versus descriptive English
I read the Q&A for this lesson on collective nouns and the discussion at https://french.kwiziq.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.