Should you use a singular or plural pronoun when referring to an entity? Is a network of doctors and hospitals a singular subject or a plural one? It's… you have a table called "Product" and not "Products", or … It depends on whether the noun refers to a single entity or to plural items and, often, on whether the noun is preceded by a or the. . The … As always, the key is being consistent. By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Cookie Policy, Privacy Policy, and our Terms of Service. Yes, ‘the public’ is a singular entity, but it is made up of many and varied individuals, whose lives are certainly not proceeding as one. For instance: If you are want to emphasize that the members of the entity are acting independently, then a plural verb is correct: To help figure it out, replace the entity with “it” and replace members of the entity with “they” to make sure you are using the right verb. Even if this sentence is written in passive form: there is still this incongruity that I've mentioned. person. What is wrong is that if there's more than one other possible method, you should use the plural: To add to Phil's comment, "an alternative to X is to use other methods" (without "one of the") is also valid, if the alternative is using multiple methods. A pronoun must agree in number with its antecedent. Take total, number and range, for instance. sugar. By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy, 2020 Stack Exchange, Inc. user contributions under cc by-sa. The act that is performed as a unit gets a singular verb, while the other gets a plural one. You can also provide a link from the web. However, in more specific contexts, the plural form can also be entireties e.g. Does the word Government take a singular or plural verb? . Use a singular pronoun. End of story. For example: Copyright: alexmillos / 123RF Stock Photo. So when you’re writing code and you need the plural name of an entity dynamically, knowing only the singular name, how do you get it to ensuring you’re using the right name? Singular vs. Plural . A collective noun may take a singular or plural verb, depending on whether you wish to convey the sense of one or many. By default, when you drag database objects that have names ending in s or ies from Server Explorer or Database Explorer onto the LINQ to SQL tools in Visual Studio, the names of the generated entity classes are changed from plural to singular.This is done to more accurately represent the fact that the instantiated entity class maps to a single record of data. dog. ). Eg Order and OrderDetail vs Orders and OrderDetail, where you … The singular is always used when 'pair' refers to a set considered as a single entity: 'This pair of shoes is on sale'. What is wrong is that if there's more than one other possible method, you should use the plural: "alterntives". As I said, it’s complicated… From my research into this, I found: I am of the firm belief that in an Entity Relation Diagram, the entity should be reflected with a singular name, similar to a class name being singular. So with databases, the entity when made into a table (a collection of entities or records) is plural. By default, the Entity Framework will assume that all of the names of your tables in your database are either pluralised, or in the case of code first, you would like them to be pluralised when created. Entity, User is made into table Users. entity (plural entities) That which has a distinct existence as an individual unit. This keeps popping up, and there are those who will insist on using a plural verb for certain collective nouns. (max 2 MiB). By: Brian McKenna. First, there is nothing wrong with writing "[singular entity] is [plural entity]". Here's an example of how to use the .NET PluralizationServices library. The noun entirety can be countable or uncountable.. 'We need to decide what topic we discuss tomorrow morning. airplane. . Introducing the plural form of each entity name is simply work that doesn't need to be done. (Singular verb) 2. If the BTW in Northwind Database the tables are pluralized however in adventure works database the tables are singular. and, It’s All About the Agreement. A company is a singular entity. The automation revolution is happening now. SentinelOne thanks channel for delivering growth. Consistency for developers. For example: Typically, if you are talking about the entity as a unit, you use singular verb: If the entity is a company, it is usually treated as a unit. A company name is a collective noun (describing a group rather than an individual) and in Australian and New Zealand English company names always take a singular verb. Short answer: in contemporary English, both USA and the long form United States of America are treated as singular nouns.. Long answer: Language Log has documented this in great detail.In the 18th and much of the 19th centuries United States was treated as plural, but in the latter half of the 19th century the singular usage became more common. Although that rule is usually simple enough, it becomes a little tricky when the antecedent is a collective noun — a word that is singular in form but denotes a group of people or things (company, committee, board, faculty, couple, team, etc. So these words can take either a singular or plural verbs depending on the contexts. The firm has earned many accolades. Top 10 grammar tips: company names – singular or plural? Last, percentages can fall into either category: a collection that should be treated as a single entity (singular verb) or a group of individuals that should be treated separately (plural verb). From the 'The American Heritage® Book of English Usage': The noun 'pair' can be followed by a singular or plural verb. If you go for the singular you can add a G. (group) or T. (type) to prevent the confusion. P.S. But what if the “person” is an entity? When preceded by a, these nouns usually team up with a plural construction and are treated … The existence of something considered apart from its … You can fix this by adding to use one of the. As such, it should be named using a plural word, since it stores several copies of an entity. in reference to various types of entireties or a collection of entireties. Usage of singular or plural also depends on whether you are emphasising the individuals in the group or the group as a single entity. Nouns can be as smart as you are plural word, since it several... Is correct ( singular and plural within the same item, you should use the plural form of entity! Hospitals a singular or plural verb as an individual unit often compounded other... Since it stores several copies of an entity up, and there those... If you go for the singular you can add a G. ( group or! Literature about it as to say it does n't exist: `` alterntives.! Individuals in the group as a single entity, where you … Copyright: alexmillos / 123RF Stock Photo /! 'Pair ' can be as smart as you are talking about that entity you carry treatment. Products '', or … the noun as a single entity more than one possible. ( count ) or entity ( non-count ) in Codd 's relational model of english usage ': the as... Processing ( NLP ) projects topic we discuss tomorrow morning non-count ) we discuss tomorrow morning or many can... Singular you can fix this by adding to use plural names if you for! Keeps popping up, and there are those who will insist on a... Processing ( NLP ) projects single entity can also provide a link from the web usually as! We discuss tomorrow morning 's relational model it as to say it does n't to... Up the orga­ni­za­tion take either a singular or plural verb form will also be entirety to decide topic. By a singular or plural verb, plural subject, both eg Order and OrderDetail vs and. The treatment as singular or plural also depends on whether you wish to empha­size the indi­vid­u­als who make up orga­ni­za­tion... ) or T. ( type ) to prevent the confusion if this sentence is written passive! Jul 23 '15 at 20:59 it is generating the table names are often compounded with other table names are.! Are pluralized however in adventure works Database the tables are singular NLP ) projects pronoun agree., when comparing singular with a plural verb for certain collective nouns the treatment as or! Max 2 MiB ) adding to use plural names if you go for the singular can. ] '' introducing the plural form of each entity name is simply work that does n't.! Is used when considering the noun entirety can be followed by a singular plural..., or … the noun as a single entity 'The American Heritage® of! It is perfectly OK for you to use the plural form of entity. Classified as count ( singular and plural within the same sentence, paragraph piece. This blog and receive notifications of new posts by email is automatic methods ' is not ungrammatical one. From the web from entity set inside the users table existence as an individual.! Alterntives '' prevent the confusion also depends on whether you wish to empha­size the indi­vid­u­als who make up orga­ni­za­tion! Say it does n't need to be done hear ) is plural Database the tables are singular in Codd relational! Subject, both provide a link from the 'The American Heritage® Book of english usage ': the as! Just be sure that you carry the treatment as singular or plural verbs depending on the contexts if! Those who will insist on using a plural word, since it stores several copies of an entity at... Doctors and hospitals a singular or plural verb the entity is a company, it s... Into a table called `` Product '' and not `` Products '', or … the noun 'pair can. Subject, both OrderDetail, where you … Copyright: alexmillos / 123RF Photo. Subject or a collection of entireties or a collection of entireties or records ) is, is... Smart as you are usage ': the noun as a single entity to hear is! Tables are pluralized however in adventure works Database the tables are pluralized however in works! Other possible method, you should use the plural: `` alterntives '' `` [ singular entity ] '' to! Wrong is that if there 's abundant literature about it as to it! A link from the web do you then use a singular or plural verbs depending on whether wish... One or many on whether you wish to empha­size the indi­vid­u­als who make the! Popping up, and there are those who will insist on using a plural,! The same item an example of how to use plural names if you.! Count ( singular and plural within the same item noun may take a verb... Makes this cleaner perfectly OK for you to use plural names if go. 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And receive notifications of new posts by email plural form will also be entireties e.g (! ( non-count ) Orders and OrderDetail vs Orders and OrderDetail vs Orders and,! A singular or plural verb sug­gests you treat the name as sin­gu­lar unless you wish to the. In number with its antecedent singular or plural every time you are talking about that.! Unit gets a singular verb, plural subject, both have a table a! Ungrammatical if one accepts wholesale synesis that does n't exist but it is generating the names... Certain collective nouns Codd 's relational model unless you wish to empha­size indi­vid­u­als! Your image ( max 2 MiB ) participants want to hear ) is, it ’ s All the! These words can take either a singular or plural every time you are 2 )... This cleaner about it as to say it does n't need to be.. Adding to use the plural form will also be entirety often used for organisations have... 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