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English: 3rd person singular s

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  • K kalberts

    Everyone I know agrees that "Lenovo makes electronic equipment" - it is a singular company, so the 's' should be in place. Now considering Texas Instruments: "Texas Instruments makes electronic equipment", because TI is singular company (at least for this discussion), or "Texas Instruments make electronic equipment" because the name is a plural form? I asked my colleauge from London about this. To be sure, I went to my Oregon colleague for a confirmation - but got the opposite answer. So, you native English speakers from all over the world, would you say: Texas Instruments makes, or Texas Instruments make? Could this be a US vs. UK distinction - do you consider your English belonging to the "British" style, or to the "American" style? To complicate it further: Informally, we often refer to TI as "Texas" only. Is it the "Texas makes electronics" but "Texas Instruments make electronics"? What about companies mostly known by their abbreviation, but the de-abbreviation is plural: IBM make, or makes, computers? - considering that the M is for Machines The good thing is that globally considered, English is such a Babelian language that everything goes, and is for the most part understood whatever variant you choose.

    R Offline
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    RossMW
    wrote on last edited by
    #7

    I would use makes. Texas Instruments is the Company name and hence no different than saying google makes something. Although the name is plural the name is a singular entity and used as such.

    A Fine is a Tax for doing something wrong A Tax is a Fine for doing something good.

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    • K kalberts

      Everyone I know agrees that "Lenovo makes electronic equipment" - it is a singular company, so the 's' should be in place. Now considering Texas Instruments: "Texas Instruments makes electronic equipment", because TI is singular company (at least for this discussion), or "Texas Instruments make electronic equipment" because the name is a plural form? I asked my colleauge from London about this. To be sure, I went to my Oregon colleague for a confirmation - but got the opposite answer. So, you native English speakers from all over the world, would you say: Texas Instruments makes, or Texas Instruments make? Could this be a US vs. UK distinction - do you consider your English belonging to the "British" style, or to the "American" style? To complicate it further: Informally, we often refer to TI as "Texas" only. Is it the "Texas makes electronics" but "Texas Instruments make electronics"? What about companies mostly known by their abbreviation, but the de-abbreviation is plural: IBM make, or makes, computers? - considering that the M is for Machines The good thing is that globally considered, English is such a Babelian language that everything goes, and is for the most part understood whatever variant you choose.

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      PeejayAdams
      wrote on last edited by
      #8

      This is a tricky one because I think the English get it wrong. If we were talking about a cricket match, an Englishman might say "England need another 200 runs" where an Aussie would be more likely to say "England needs another 200 runs." Given that England in this context is a singular entity, the Australian version is logically correct but it sounds wrong to English ears. Ultimately, I guess usage triumphs over rules when it comes to grammar and usage is never going to be standard across the Anglophone world.

      98.4% of statistics are made up on the spot.

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      • P PeejayAdams

        This is a tricky one because I think the English get it wrong. If we were talking about a cricket match, an Englishman might say "England need another 200 runs" where an Aussie would be more likely to say "England needs another 200 runs." Given that England in this context is a singular entity, the Australian version is logically correct but it sounds wrong to English ears. Ultimately, I guess usage triumphs over rules when it comes to grammar and usage is never going to be standard across the Anglophone world.

        98.4% of statistics are made up on the spot.

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        RossMW
        wrote on last edited by
        #9

        PeejayAdams wrote:

        Aussie would be more likely to say "England needs another 200 runs."

        You obviously don't know Aussies very well. They would be saying "pass another beer Sheryl, we just need a few more wickets"

        A Fine is a Tax for doing something wrong A Tax is a Fine for doing something good.

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        • P PeejayAdams

          This is a tricky one because I think the English get it wrong. If we were talking about a cricket match, an Englishman might say "England need another 200 runs" where an Aussie would be more likely to say "England needs another 200 runs." Given that England in this context is a singular entity, the Australian version is logically correct but it sounds wrong to English ears. Ultimately, I guess usage triumphs over rules when it comes to grammar and usage is never going to be standard across the Anglophone world.

          98.4% of statistics are made up on the spot.

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          L Offline
          Lost User
          wrote on last edited by
          #10

          Well just to confuse: - the English players need another 200 runs - in this case "needs" would definitely be wrong - the English team needs/need another 200 runs (both correct, "team" is both singular and plural) "team" / "players" can be dropped for brevity, hence "need" is always correct, "needs" is only sometimes correct. The Texas Instruments case also depends if it's equipment from or of TI - Texas Instruments makes electronic equipment. - Texas Instruments electronic equipment - Texas Instruments' electronic equipment And just to prove how wonderful the language is: - TI's electronic equipment - is OK - Texas Instruments's electronic equipment - is not. Tis manifest, 'in't it or no?

          Signature ready for installation. Please Reboot now.

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          • K kalberts

            Everyone I know agrees that "Lenovo makes electronic equipment" - it is a singular company, so the 's' should be in place. Now considering Texas Instruments: "Texas Instruments makes electronic equipment", because TI is singular company (at least for this discussion), or "Texas Instruments make electronic equipment" because the name is a plural form? I asked my colleauge from London about this. To be sure, I went to my Oregon colleague for a confirmation - but got the opposite answer. So, you native English speakers from all over the world, would you say: Texas Instruments makes, or Texas Instruments make? Could this be a US vs. UK distinction - do you consider your English belonging to the "British" style, or to the "American" style? To complicate it further: Informally, we often refer to TI as "Texas" only. Is it the "Texas makes electronics" but "Texas Instruments make electronics"? What about companies mostly known by their abbreviation, but the de-abbreviation is plural: IBM make, or makes, computers? - considering that the M is for Machines The good thing is that globally considered, English is such a Babelian language that everything goes, and is for the most part understood whatever variant you choose.

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            Munchies_Matt
            wrote on last edited by
            #11

            "Texas Instruments makes," is correct. Regardless of the name of the company, it is a single entity.

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            • OriginalGriffO OriginalGriff

              I'd go with "Texas Instruments makes" as it's a singular company - the plurality is part of the name, not the manufacture process. I could easily be wrong though.

              Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay... AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!

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              Munchies_Matt
              wrote on last edited by
              #12

              You are correct. It is singular, because the company is a single entity.

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              • P PeejayAdams

                This is a tricky one because I think the English get it wrong. If we were talking about a cricket match, an Englishman might say "England need another 200 runs" where an Aussie would be more likely to say "England needs another 200 runs." Given that England in this context is a singular entity, the Australian version is logically correct but it sounds wrong to English ears. Ultimately, I guess usage triumphs over rules when it comes to grammar and usage is never going to be standard across the Anglophone world.

                98.4% of statistics are made up on the spot.

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                M Offline
                Munchies_Matt
                wrote on last edited by
                #13

                PeejayAdams wrote:

                England need another 200 runs

                Depends if you interpret 'England' as a team, singular, or a group of people, plural. In fact the existence of the 's' tells you to which 'England' the speaker is referring.

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                • P PeejayAdams

                  This is a tricky one because I think the English get it wrong. If we were talking about a cricket match, an Englishman might say "England need another 200 runs" where an Aussie would be more likely to say "England needs another 200 runs." Given that England in this context is a singular entity, the Australian version is logically correct but it sounds wrong to English ears. Ultimately, I guess usage triumphs over rules when it comes to grammar and usage is never going to be standard across the Anglophone world.

                  98.4% of statistics are made up on the spot.

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                  L Offline
                  Lost User
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #14

                  This is tricky but I think that England can be a singular or collective noun, ie the country England or the England team which would make both forms correct. By the way an Aussie would say "The Poms need another 200 runs".

                  Peter Wasser "The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts." - Bertrand Russell

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                  • K kalberts

                    Everyone I know agrees that "Lenovo makes electronic equipment" - it is a singular company, so the 's' should be in place. Now considering Texas Instruments: "Texas Instruments makes electronic equipment", because TI is singular company (at least for this discussion), or "Texas Instruments make electronic equipment" because the name is a plural form? I asked my colleauge from London about this. To be sure, I went to my Oregon colleague for a confirmation - but got the opposite answer. So, you native English speakers from all over the world, would you say: Texas Instruments makes, or Texas Instruments make? Could this be a US vs. UK distinction - do you consider your English belonging to the "British" style, or to the "American" style? To complicate it further: Informally, we often refer to TI as "Texas" only. Is it the "Texas makes electronics" but "Texas Instruments make electronics"? What about companies mostly known by their abbreviation, but the de-abbreviation is plural: IBM make, or makes, computers? - considering that the M is for Machines The good thing is that globally considered, English is such a Babelian language that everything goes, and is for the most part understood whatever variant you choose.

                    realJSOPR Offline
                    realJSOPR Offline
                    realJSOP
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #15

                    Texas Instruments doesn't make anything. They have child laborers in China make their stuff...

                    ".45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly" - JSOP, 2010
                    -----
                    You can never have too much ammo - unless you're swimming, or on fire. - JSOP, 2010
                    -----
                    When you pry the gun from my cold dead hands, be careful - the barrel will be very hot. - JSOP, 2013

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                    • realJSOPR realJSOP

                      Texas Instruments doesn't make anything. They have child laborers in China make their stuff...

                      ".45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly" - JSOP, 2010
                      -----
                      You can never have too much ammo - unless you're swimming, or on fire. - JSOP, 2010
                      -----
                      When you pry the gun from my cold dead hands, be careful - the barrel will be very hot. - JSOP, 2013

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                      GenJerDan
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #16

                      John Simmons / outlaw programmer wrote:

                      Texas Instruments doesn't make anything.

                      Because "Texas Instruments don't make. . ." sounds really wrong. Singular entity, except...

                      John Simmons / outlaw programmer wrote:

                      They have child laborers in China make their stuff...

                      They have child laborers in China make their stuff... :laugh:

                      We won't sit down. We won't shut up. We won't go quietly away. YouTube, VidMe and My Mu[sic], Films and Windows Programs, etc. and FB

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                      • K kalberts

                        Everyone I know agrees that "Lenovo makes electronic equipment" - it is a singular company, so the 's' should be in place. Now considering Texas Instruments: "Texas Instruments makes electronic equipment", because TI is singular company (at least for this discussion), or "Texas Instruments make electronic equipment" because the name is a plural form? I asked my colleauge from London about this. To be sure, I went to my Oregon colleague for a confirmation - but got the opposite answer. So, you native English speakers from all over the world, would you say: Texas Instruments makes, or Texas Instruments make? Could this be a US vs. UK distinction - do you consider your English belonging to the "British" style, or to the "American" style? To complicate it further: Informally, we often refer to TI as "Texas" only. Is it the "Texas makes electronics" but "Texas Instruments make electronics"? What about companies mostly known by their abbreviation, but the de-abbreviation is plural: IBM make, or makes, computers? - considering that the M is for Machines The good thing is that globally considered, English is such a Babelian language that everything goes, and is for the most part understood whatever variant you choose.

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                        theoldfool
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #17

                        Them thar Texicans at Texas Instruments makez real good instrumentz.

                        If you can keep your head while those about you are losing theirs, perhaps you don't understand the situation.

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                        • K kalberts

                          Everyone I know agrees that "Lenovo makes electronic equipment" - it is a singular company, so the 's' should be in place. Now considering Texas Instruments: "Texas Instruments makes electronic equipment", because TI is singular company (at least for this discussion), or "Texas Instruments make electronic equipment" because the name is a plural form? I asked my colleauge from London about this. To be sure, I went to my Oregon colleague for a confirmation - but got the opposite answer. So, you native English speakers from all over the world, would you say: Texas Instruments makes, or Texas Instruments make? Could this be a US vs. UK distinction - do you consider your English belonging to the "British" style, or to the "American" style? To complicate it further: Informally, we often refer to TI as "Texas" only. Is it the "Texas makes electronics" but "Texas Instruments make electronics"? What about companies mostly known by their abbreviation, but the de-abbreviation is plural: IBM make, or makes, computers? - considering that the M is for Machines The good thing is that globally considered, English is such a Babelian language that everything goes, and is for the most part understood whatever variant you choose.

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                          DRHuff
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #18

                          Texas Instruments makes...

                          Member 7989122 wrote:

                          do you consider your English belonging to the "British" style, or to the "American" style?

                          I would colour it American like my neighbours to the south! (Just to confuse the issue. :-\ )

                          I'm pretty sure I would not like to live in a world in which I would never be offended. I am absolutely certain I don't want to live in a world in which you would never be offended. Freedom doesn't mean the absence of things you don't like. Dave

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                          • K kalberts

                            Everyone I know agrees that "Lenovo makes electronic equipment" - it is a singular company, so the 's' should be in place. Now considering Texas Instruments: "Texas Instruments makes electronic equipment", because TI is singular company (at least for this discussion), or "Texas Instruments make electronic equipment" because the name is a plural form? I asked my colleauge from London about this. To be sure, I went to my Oregon colleague for a confirmation - but got the opposite answer. So, you native English speakers from all over the world, would you say: Texas Instruments makes, or Texas Instruments make? Could this be a US vs. UK distinction - do you consider your English belonging to the "British" style, or to the "American" style? To complicate it further: Informally, we often refer to TI as "Texas" only. Is it the "Texas makes electronics" but "Texas Instruments make electronics"? What about companies mostly known by their abbreviation, but the de-abbreviation is plural: IBM make, or makes, computers? - considering that the M is for Machines The good thing is that globally considered, English is such a Babelian language that everything goes, and is for the most part understood whatever variant you choose.

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                            W Offline
                            W Balboos GHB
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #19

                            Most of these types of questions can be answered by a remark made by a German teacher, some (many many) years ago: The only rule in German without any exceptions is that there are no rules in German without exceptions. Apply to English, and that should answer all your questions, past, present, and future.

                            Ravings en masse^

                            "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein

                            "If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you are seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010

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                            • D DRHuff

                              Texas Instruments makes...

                              Member 7989122 wrote:

                              do you consider your English belonging to the "British" style, or to the "American" style?

                              I would colour it American like my neighbours to the south! (Just to confuse the issue. :-\ )

                              I'm pretty sure I would not like to live in a world in which I would never be offended. I am absolutely certain I don't want to live in a world in which you would never be offended. Freedom doesn't mean the absence of things you don't like. Dave

                              F Offline
                              F Offline
                              Forogar
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #20

                              Clearly you speak in the English style, not American colonial, as your correct spelling of "colour" indicates.

                              - I would love to change the world, but they won’t give me the source code.

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                              • F Forogar

                                Clearly you speak in the English style, not American colonial, as your correct spelling of "colour" indicates.

                                - I would love to change the world, but they won’t give me the source code.

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                                D Offline
                                DRHuff
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #21

                                I was hoping somebody would catch that. Neighbour too.

                                I'm pretty sure I would not like to live in a world in which I would never be offended. I am absolutely certain I don't want to live in a world in which you would never be offended. Freedom doesn't mean the absence of things you don't like. Dave

                                F 1 Reply Last reply
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                                • D DRHuff

                                  I was hoping somebody would catch that. Neighbour too.

                                  I'm pretty sure I would not like to live in a world in which I would never be offended. I am absolutely certain I don't want to live in a world in which you would never be offended. Freedom doesn't mean the absence of things you don't like. Dave

                                  F Offline
                                  F Offline
                                  Forogar
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #22

                                  I am so used to seeing "neighbour" spelled correctly that I didn't notice it as unusual. The only reason I noticed "colour" was that in C# I am constantly setting up Color objects and calling them "colour" something so I get reminded of the deficient US spelling almost every day!

                                  - I would love to change the world, but they won’t give me the source code.

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                                  • F Forogar

                                    I am so used to seeing "neighbour" spelled correctly that I didn't notice it as unusual. The only reason I noticed "colour" was that in C# I am constantly setting up Color objects and calling them "colour" something so I get reminded of the deficient US spelling almost every day!

                                    - I would love to change the world, but they won’t give me the source code.

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                                    F Offline
                                    Foothill
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #23

                                    I think you mean efficient, not deficient :-\

                                    if (Object.DividedByZero == true) { Universe.Implode(); }

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                                    • K kalberts

                                      Everyone I know agrees that "Lenovo makes electronic equipment" - it is a singular company, so the 's' should be in place. Now considering Texas Instruments: "Texas Instruments makes electronic equipment", because TI is singular company (at least for this discussion), or "Texas Instruments make electronic equipment" because the name is a plural form? I asked my colleauge from London about this. To be sure, I went to my Oregon colleague for a confirmation - but got the opposite answer. So, you native English speakers from all over the world, would you say: Texas Instruments makes, or Texas Instruments make? Could this be a US vs. UK distinction - do you consider your English belonging to the "British" style, or to the "American" style? To complicate it further: Informally, we often refer to TI as "Texas" only. Is it the "Texas makes electronics" but "Texas Instruments make electronics"? What about companies mostly known by their abbreviation, but the de-abbreviation is plural: IBM make, or makes, computers? - considering that the M is for Machines The good thing is that globally considered, English is such a Babelian language that everything goes, and is for the most part understood whatever variant you choose.

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                                      R Offline
                                      Ravi Bhavnani
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #24

                                      Singular, because when you say "Texas Instruments makes...", you really mean "The company 'Texas Instruments' makes...". /ravi

                                      My new year resolution: 2048 x 1536 Home | Articles | My .NET bits | Freeware ravib(at)ravib(dot)com

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                                      • K kalberts

                                        Everyone I know agrees that "Lenovo makes electronic equipment" - it is a singular company, so the 's' should be in place. Now considering Texas Instruments: "Texas Instruments makes electronic equipment", because TI is singular company (at least for this discussion), or "Texas Instruments make electronic equipment" because the name is a plural form? I asked my colleauge from London about this. To be sure, I went to my Oregon colleague for a confirmation - but got the opposite answer. So, you native English speakers from all over the world, would you say: Texas Instruments makes, or Texas Instruments make? Could this be a US vs. UK distinction - do you consider your English belonging to the "British" style, or to the "American" style? To complicate it further: Informally, we often refer to TI as "Texas" only. Is it the "Texas makes electronics" but "Texas Instruments make electronics"? What about companies mostly known by their abbreviation, but the de-abbreviation is plural: IBM make, or makes, computers? - considering that the M is for Machines The good thing is that globally considered, English is such a Babelian language that everything goes, and is for the most part understood whatever variant you choose.

                                        K Offline
                                        K Offline
                                        Kirill Illenseer
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #25

                                        I come to rever to companies as "they". That's not only the third-preson plural pronoun, that's also the third-person singular gender-agnostic pronoun. And the second role fits companies rather well. That results in the omission of the S.

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                                        • K kalberts

                                          Everyone I know agrees that "Lenovo makes electronic equipment" - it is a singular company, so the 's' should be in place. Now considering Texas Instruments: "Texas Instruments makes electronic equipment", because TI is singular company (at least for this discussion), or "Texas Instruments make electronic equipment" because the name is a plural form? I asked my colleauge from London about this. To be sure, I went to my Oregon colleague for a confirmation - but got the opposite answer. So, you native English speakers from all over the world, would you say: Texas Instruments makes, or Texas Instruments make? Could this be a US vs. UK distinction - do you consider your English belonging to the "British" style, or to the "American" style? To complicate it further: Informally, we often refer to TI as "Texas" only. Is it the "Texas makes electronics" but "Texas Instruments make electronics"? What about companies mostly known by their abbreviation, but the de-abbreviation is plural: IBM make, or makes, computers? - considering that the M is for Machines The good thing is that globally considered, English is such a Babelian language that everything goes, and is for the most part understood whatever variant you choose.

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                                          J Offline
                                          jsc42
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #26

                                          I haven't read all of the responses yet, so I apologise if this is a repeat of someone else's response. In America, corporations are plural entities; in the UK they are singular. It does not matter whether their name ends in an 's' or not. So: IBM make electronic equipment in America; but Dyson makes electronic equipment in the UK. Similarly: The US government are based in Washington DC; but the UK government is based in London.

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