Grammar check

India
November 13, 2006 12:09am CST
Is it grammatically correct to say that "the Cabinet have been sworn to secrecy?", especially when cabinet is a plural term. Can it be synonymously used as "the Cabinet has been sworn to secrecy?" Whats the fundamental difference between the two?
2 responses
edm2000eclipse
@edm2000eclipse (1003)
• United States
13 Nov 06
what i mean is "the cabinet" is one group, that's why you say it like it's singular.
dyslexia
@dyslexia (3)
• India
13 Nov 06
if we strictly go by the grammatical rule of the number, than don't u think 'have' is more appropriate than 'has'?
dyslexia
@dyslexia (3)
• India
13 Nov 06
further, is it right to say that "nobody dares to treat her like that?" or is it "nobody dare..."? if so why?
edm2000eclipse
@edm2000eclipse (1003)
• United States
13 Nov 06
the second one is correct due to the fact that even though cabinet is plural in a sense, the word itself isn't said in a plural form therefore has would be the correct way to say it.