Do you use a singular or a plural verb after the word “couple”?

That depends on one’s relationship with one’s “bitter half” I guess. Just kidding! The word “couple” can be followed by either a singular or a plural verb. It depends on how you view the two individuals. Do you see them as being a single unit, or do you consider them to be two distinct individuals? If you think of them as being two distinct individuals, then you use the plural verb. If, on the other hand, you consider them to be a single unit, then you use a singular verb.

Here are a few examples. *The couple were married last month. *The couple have featured in two hit films. *The couple has three children. *The couple has a beautiful flat in Delhi.

 The Hindu- ‘Know Your English’ Series, July 15, 2003

“oxymoron”

“Bitter sweet” is an example of an oxymoron. Here we have a combination of two words (“bitter” and “sweet”), which mean exactly the opposite. An oxymoron is usually defined as a phrase in which two words of contradictory meaning are brought together. This is usually done to create an effect. A “wise fool” and “make haste slowly” are other examples. If the Americans don’t find the weapons of mass destruction soon, it is very likely “American intelligence” will become an example of an oxymoron as well!

The Hindu- ‘Know Your English’ Series, July 15, 2003

“To haul someone over the coals”

This is an expression that is frequently used in business and politics. When you “haul someone over the coals” you criticize them severely for something that they have done. You reprimand them for some wrongdoing. Americans tend to say “rake someone over the coals”.

Here are a few examples. *My boss hauled me over the coals for showing up late for the meeting. *Runa raked her husband over the coals for forgetting her birthday. *The Minister was hauled over the coals for not supporting the bill.

Raking people over the coals was something that was practiced in Europe a few centuries ago. If people suspected that you were practicing witchcraft, or that you didn’t believe in things that the church said, then you were accused of being a heretic and dragged over red-hot coals of a slow fire. If you survived the ordeal, then you were declared innocent. If you didn’t, well it was just too bad.

The Hindu- ‘Know Your English’ Series, July 15, 2003

“leapfrog”

“Leapfrog” is actually the name of a game that most of us played as kids. In this game one of the children bends down and the others jump over him. When you “leapfrog” from one position to another what you are doing is progressing rapidly, often skipping several steps or levels. You quickly advance in status; often overtaking your colleagues or competitors. This is one of the meanings of the word.

Here are a few examples. *The school cricket team leapfrogged from the 10th to the third position. *Kiran leapfrogged two ranks and was made a Major. *John leapfrogged over his colleagues to become a professor.

The Hindu- ‘Know Your English’ Series, July 15, 2003

“client” and “clientele”

When you become someone’s client you pay for the services or advice that he/she provides you. When you go to a lawyer or an accountant you become his/her client. The term “clientele” is used to refer to all the clients of a professional organisation or business. You are thinking of the clients as a group. A “clientele” can be defined as a “collective body of clients”.

Here are a few examples. *The clientele of my cousin’s law firm consists of big corporations. *The new restaurant has a very fashionable clientele. *This bank’s clientele includes some of the richest people in the city.

The “i” in the first syllable of “clientele” is like the “y” in “my” and “by”, while the following “e” is like the “a” in “china”. The final “tele” is pronounced like the word “tell”. The main stress is on the third syllable. Some people tend to pronounce the “i” in the first syllable like the “ee” in ‘fee”, “see” and “feet”.

The Hindu- ‘Know Your English’ Series, July 15, 2003