are or is

English translation: are

15:47 Mar 29, 2016
English language (monolingual) [Non-PRO]
Social Sciences - General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters / basic grammar verbs/singular/plural
English term or phrase: are or is
are or is

This is a grammar question, rather than a translation question.

Here is the sentence:
Graduate studies at European University are / is governed by ...

The "s" in studies would generally make it "are" - but "graduate studies" is a thing, i.e. not plural. Therefor I would say that this makes it "is governed."
Charlesp
Sweden
Local time: 18:22
Selected answer:are
Explanation:
I can see your logic, but I just think "Graduate studies is governed by" sounds odd. You could say "European studies is a popular subject", because "subject" is singular.

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Note added at 11 mins (2016-03-29 15:58:58 GMT)
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Basically, each graduate is doing their own study, so it's plural.
Selected response from:

philgoddard
United States
Grading comment
the "ares" have it!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
4 +9are
philgoddard
4 +2Both possible
Cilian O'Tuama


  

Answers


11 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +9
are


Explanation:
I can see your logic, but I just think "Graduate studies is governed by" sounds odd. You could say "European studies is a popular subject", because "subject" is singular.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 11 mins (2016-03-29 15:58:58 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Basically, each graduate is doing their own study, so it's plural.

Example sentence(s):
  • Graduate studies are quite different from undergraduate studies.
  • While some undergraduate programs require a senior project or a similar activity, graduate studies are much more research oriented.

    Reference: http://www.uregina.ca/gradstudies/grad-calendar/policy-fgsr....
    Reference: http://www.studyusa.com/en/a/177/what-are-the-differences-be...
philgoddard
United States
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 119
Grading comment
the "ares" have it!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  B D Finch
13 mins

agree  Robert Forstag: I don't think that any native speaker of English in any of its varieties would use "is" in such a sentence.
14 mins

agree  Yasutomo Kanazawa
19 mins

agree  David Hollywood: definitely "are" as studies are plural
33 mins

agree  Tamas Elek
37 mins

agree  Edith Kelly
2 hrs

agree  Veronika McLaren: ...unless "School" or "Department" of Grad. Studies is used
2 hrs

agree  Jean-Claude Gouin
2 hrs

neutral  Cilian O'Tuama: Purely from language viewpoint, I'd say it depends on whether it's a single entity/subject/course/faculty. // But it COULD be (see below, if you wish).
7 hrs
  -> It's graduate studies, which is not an entity, subject, course or faculty.

agree  Sheila Wilson: I'd say that "graduate study" is singular (or a mass noun); "graduate studies" are plural.
1 day 4 hrs
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1 day 6 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
Both possible


Explanation:
I'd just like to claim that your second option, 'is', needn't necessarily be wrong.

If "graduate studies" (GS) can be regarded as a single entity, then it would be perfectly legit to use 'is'. Right?

And IMO such a scenario is easily conceivable.

Much the same as with e.g. 'research and development', which is very often treated as singular because it's often intended as a synonym for "R&D department".

And GS could be synonymous with "the faculty of GS", in which case 'is' is fine.

A few refs:

https://grad.unm.edu/funding/research-travel-grants/doc-conf...
Graduate Studies is not responsible for informing applicants of incomplete/incorrect applications.

https://www1.villanova.edu/villanova/artsci/graduate/policie...
Summer tuition is not automatically credited to student accounts, so if Graduate Studies is not notified in a timely manner, students may receive bills.

https://gradstudies.ucdavis.edu/current-students/commencemen...
Graduate Studies is not responsible for lost or stolen items.

Of course you'll find more googles for 'are', but that doesn't mean it's the only possibility.

Cilian O'Tuama
Germany
Local time: 18:22
Works in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 28

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Robert Forstag: "Women's Studies," "Gender Studies," or "Basque Studies" are examples of the kinds of entities that can take the plural. I suppose that "Graduate Studies" is typically not construed in the same way. :)
23 mins
  -> sorry, I don't quite follow :(

agree  Sheila Wilson: I would accept each of those, provided that "School of Graduate Studies" (or Dept etc) had already been defined. As an EFL trainer I learnt to avoid saying always/never. This is a good reminder of the reason.
10 hrs
  -> Yes, dangerous words those.

agree  B D Finch: Good point.
11 hrs
  -> Merci.
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