The government: who or which?
- Thread starter elenams_6
- Start date
Welcome to the forum, elenams_6. 
We would like to help you.
Please give us the question you have in mind.
We can be much more helpful when we see what you have in mind. There are various reasons we might use one or another form. Also, it makes a difference whether you want the word to function as a pronoun or as an adjective.
We would like to help you.
Please give us the question you have in mind.
We can be much more helpful when we see what you have in mind. There are various reasons we might use one or another form. Also, it makes a difference whether you want the word to function as a pronoun or as an adjective.
I'd yse which because though the government is composed of people, it is not a person. Who would be used with a person.
(Thank you, elenams_6, for the context. )
Like onemorning85, I would use which, and for the same reason.
I speak American English. I would like to know what a speaker of British English would say. Sometimes I hear them use "who" to refer to the government, because they are thinking of the government as a group of people.* However, I don't know how they decide whether to do this, so I don't know whether they would do it in this example.
)Like onemorning85, I would use which, and for the same reason.
I speak American English. I would like to know what a speaker of British English would say. Sometimes I hear them use "who" to refer to the government, because they are thinking of the government as a group of people.* However, I don't know how they decide whether to do this, so I don't know whether they would do it in this example.
* In case anyone is interested, here are some earlier threads on the issue:
Well, as a moderator is asking for opinions and not just closing the thread . . . The problem with looking at previous threads is that they will go all round the general issue, but it might be hard to find a specific answer.
In this particular sentence I would definitely say 'which'. It is only the collective government that has the good reputation, not the individuals that compose it. Singular agreement is the only one possible in:
The government was formed after the May 2010 election.
The government was dissolved in preparation for new elections.
The government consists of Liberal Democrats and Conservatives.
I would use plural (but could also use singular) when 'the government' could be replaced by 'the members of the government':
The government have agreed on a new policy.
The government are keen to resolve the issue without delay.
In this particular sentence I would definitely say 'which'. It is only the collective government that has the good reputation, not the individuals that compose it. Singular agreement is the only one possible in:
The government was formed after the May 2010 election.
The government was dissolved in preparation for new elections.
The government consists of Liberal Democrats and Conservatives.
I would use plural (but could also use singular) when 'the government' could be replaced by 'the members of the government':
The government have agreed on a new policy.
The government are keen to resolve the issue without delay.
This question is slightly removed from the "government - singular or plural" question, though the two are connected.
In BE, we are happy to consider government as singular or plural - as explained above. etb has explained the rationale for our choice.
If we find ourselves needing a relative pronoun for government, it depends on the same rationale. Speaking of government as a set of individuals, we use who; speaking of government as an impersonal entity, we use which.
In AE, as I understand the opinions expressed here, government is singular and therefore requires which, not who.
I can't imagine either AE or BE tolerating:
The government, who has a good reputation, has not solved the problem yet.
So the answer to the post #1 question, as amplified in post #3, is straightforward: the sentence considers government to be singular - use which, not who
In BE, we are happy to consider government as singular or plural - as explained above. etb has explained the rationale for our choice.
If we find ourselves needing a relative pronoun for government, it depends on the same rationale. Speaking of government as a set of individuals, we use who; speaking of government as an impersonal entity, we use which.
In AE, as I understand the opinions expressed here, government is singular and therefore requires which, not who.
I can't imagine either AE or BE tolerating:
So the answer to the post #1 question, as amplified in post #3, is straightforward: the sentence considers government to be singular - use which, not who