english grammar help, please

[zehd]

Well, it was a reference to zehd's reiny day... But since we were also discussing the Queen, maybe he actually meant reign?

I like that... I was out pedant-anted-ed... I must have been listening to another American song while writing reign....

It ain't easy being a Canadian pedant...

[McBainUK]

#2 all the way!

Same here.

[zehd]

I have to give you credit for capitalizing "English" since plenty of Americans don't but should. Too bad your "oh deer" references an animal that gets hunted during gun season, though.

I've always thought of there being two languages: English and english.

[stefan]

Thanks you guys. Guessing that the professor who'll be reading the paper is also Swedish, I doubt he (she?) will know which is right

[martint123]

Speaking as a Brit, but not a teacher of English. I would pick

(2) The staff have experience.

(1) would be OK with "that member of staff has experience"


Likewise

2) The staff are happy.

or "that member is staff is happy"

Same again

2) The staff gave away their food.

or That member of staff gave away his/her food.

Martin

[sub]

I have terrible english skills so I'm staying out of this one...

[stustunz]

thats why i posted something then deleted it
but i would agree with martin

[stefan]

That grammar trap page zehd recommended also discusses recurring/reocurring

[stefan]

I sent the paper back to my sister in law along with your comments, so now she can decide for herself

[ACTCMS]

Speaking as a Scot, who can speak perfect English when appropriate, I would say that #2 is correct for all examples given. In fact I can't think of any occasion when 'staff' (meaning a collection of people) would be considered singular.

Alex (the original pedant and grumpy old man)