Is this Hufflepuff plural or singular?

1

2

"And what are Slytherin and Hufflepuff?"
"School houses. There's four. Everyone says Hufflepuff are a lot o' duffers, but --"
"I bet I'm in Hufflepuff" said Harry gloomily.
(Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone)

I bet there should be are in there’s four, but I’m not quite sure if there be is or are in Hufflepuff are a lot o’ duffers. (I guess it may depends on which is the head of a lot o’ duffers: lot or duffers)

Listenever

Posted 2013-10-24T12:47:28.457

Reputation: 25 811

Answers

2

The first part reads "There's four" because that's how Hogwarts-aged kids talk. "There are four" may be more grammatically correct, but it wouldn't have made for a better book.

As for the second part, I think that's just some implied words. I believe the speaker really means:

Everyone says [those in] Hufflepuff are a lot o' duffers, but...

or

Everyone says [those assigned to] Hufflepuff are a lot o' duffers, but --

J.R.

Posted 2013-10-24T12:47:28.457

Reputation: 108 123

5

Don't forget that in BrE collective nouns take plural verb forms.

– Tyler James Young – 2013-10-24T14:27:21.037

@TylerJamesYoung - I suspect your answer is more correct than mine. Maybe you should elaborate some more in an answer to this question. – J.R. – 2013-10-24T16:20:38.763

I think that's the only piece yours needs. It all gets a bit squidgy with fictional sprogs a-bandy—as you've rightly said—so I can't be bothered to lay down the law anyway. – Tyler James Young – 2013-10-24T17:42:04.710

Asked: 2013-10-24T12:47:28.457

Viewed: 280 times

Active: 2013-10-24T12:59:16.760