A common grammatical error in spoken and written English is the use of the singular verb with the phrase “the police.” However, according to language educator Dupe Janet Olaniran, the expression “the police” is treated as a plural noun in standard English and should always take a plural verb.
Sharing the explanation on her Facebook page, Olaniran noted that while “the police” refers to a single institution or group, it is grammatically plural.
She explained that the correct usage includes sentences such as:
– “The police are investigating the case.”
– “The police have arrested the suspect.”
By contrast, the sentence “The police is investigating the case” is considered grammatically incorrect in standard English.
Olaniran further clarified that when referring to an individual member of the force, speakers and writers should use singular expressions such as “a police officer,” “a policeman,” or “a policewoman.”
Examples include:
– “A police officer is directing traffic.”
– “The police are questioning witnesses.”
She encouraged English learners and writers to remember that while “the police” denotes a collective body, it always takes a plural verb in standard English.
Source: Dupe Janet Olaniran, via Facebook.
