Is the noun “faculty” countable?












1















I know that the noun faculty can be both singular and plural, but I’m confused whether it’s countable or uncountable when used in sentences like this one:




Many international faculty have difficulties with. . . .











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  • 1





    It depends -- have you lost your faculties?

    – Hot Licks
    Aug 10 '15 at 11:17
















1















I know that the noun faculty can be both singular and plural, but I’m confused whether it’s countable or uncountable when used in sentences like this one:




Many international faculty have difficulties with. . . .











share|improve this question




















  • 1





    It depends -- have you lost your faculties?

    – Hot Licks
    Aug 10 '15 at 11:17














1












1








1


1






I know that the noun faculty can be both singular and plural, but I’m confused whether it’s countable or uncountable when used in sentences like this one:




Many international faculty have difficulties with. . . .











share|improve this question
















I know that the noun faculty can be both singular and plural, but I’m confused whether it’s countable or uncountable when used in sentences like this one:




Many international faculty have difficulties with. . . .








countable-nouns






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share|improve this question













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edited Aug 10 '15 at 14:01









tchrist

109k30291467




109k30291467










asked Aug 10 '15 at 8:51









IrrrIrrr

62




62








  • 1





    It depends -- have you lost your faculties?

    – Hot Licks
    Aug 10 '15 at 11:17














  • 1





    It depends -- have you lost your faculties?

    – Hot Licks
    Aug 10 '15 at 11:17








1




1





It depends -- have you lost your faculties?

– Hot Licks
Aug 10 '15 at 11:17





It depends -- have you lost your faculties?

– Hot Licks
Aug 10 '15 at 11:17










4 Answers
4






active

oldest

votes


















4














It may help to think of "faculty" as both a collective noun and countable noun. In its guise as a collective noun, it may govern either a singular or plural verb, depending, respectively, on whether you're thinking of the faculty as a single group or as multiple individuals. The former is the default in AmE; the latter, in BrE. So in AmE, if I say




The faculty are revolting.




I mean that the members of the faculty disgust me. On the other hand, if I say




The faculty is revolting.




I mean that the faculty is about to storm the Dean's office.



In its guise as a countable noun, "faculty" may take its plural form "faculties" to indicate separate, multiple groups (and of course will then take a plural verb):




The three faculties of the School of Law, the School of Medicine, and
the College of Arts and Sciences are meeting in plenary session.







share|improve this answer
























  • Then there is the literal meaning of faculty, which often appears in the plural: He is gradually losing his faculties.

    – John Lawler
    2 hours ago



















0














If you mean faculty as in the individual teachers within the group, then its common to say " faculty members" which is countable.



Otherwise faculty refers to the entire group, which is also countable.



So in your example:



Many international faculties (as in different groups)



Many international faculty members (individual members within the group)






share|improve this answer































    0














    But what about this, which I see often at work (in a university):



    "Twenty faculty will be chosen to participate in the program... "






    share|improve this answer








    New contributor




    cestjill is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
    Check out our Code of Conduct.




























      0














      When used in sentences like that one, the use of the word "many" implies that "faculty" is being treated as a countable plural noun.



      What other answers haven't said directly is that this is not the usual usage of faculty. Faculty is usually used as a singular count noun (with the plural form "faculties"), or as a plural non-count noun (through "notional agreement").



      "Many international faculty" is not linguistically acceptable to me. Some speakers might have different intuitions, but deadrat and J. Paczuski's answers seem to be based on the same judgement of the unacceptability of usages like "many faculty". The answer by cestjill (with the example "twenty faculty") provides evidence for speakers who might not share this judgement.






      share|improve this answer

























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        4 Answers
        4






        active

        oldest

        votes








        4 Answers
        4






        active

        oldest

        votes









        active

        oldest

        votes






        active

        oldest

        votes









        4














        It may help to think of "faculty" as both a collective noun and countable noun. In its guise as a collective noun, it may govern either a singular or plural verb, depending, respectively, on whether you're thinking of the faculty as a single group or as multiple individuals. The former is the default in AmE; the latter, in BrE. So in AmE, if I say




        The faculty are revolting.




        I mean that the members of the faculty disgust me. On the other hand, if I say




        The faculty is revolting.




        I mean that the faculty is about to storm the Dean's office.



        In its guise as a countable noun, "faculty" may take its plural form "faculties" to indicate separate, multiple groups (and of course will then take a plural verb):




        The three faculties of the School of Law, the School of Medicine, and
        the College of Arts and Sciences are meeting in plenary session.







        share|improve this answer
























        • Then there is the literal meaning of faculty, which often appears in the plural: He is gradually losing his faculties.

          – John Lawler
          2 hours ago
















        4














        It may help to think of "faculty" as both a collective noun and countable noun. In its guise as a collective noun, it may govern either a singular or plural verb, depending, respectively, on whether you're thinking of the faculty as a single group or as multiple individuals. The former is the default in AmE; the latter, in BrE. So in AmE, if I say




        The faculty are revolting.




        I mean that the members of the faculty disgust me. On the other hand, if I say




        The faculty is revolting.




        I mean that the faculty is about to storm the Dean's office.



        In its guise as a countable noun, "faculty" may take its plural form "faculties" to indicate separate, multiple groups (and of course will then take a plural verb):




        The three faculties of the School of Law, the School of Medicine, and
        the College of Arts and Sciences are meeting in plenary session.







        share|improve this answer
























        • Then there is the literal meaning of faculty, which often appears in the plural: He is gradually losing his faculties.

          – John Lawler
          2 hours ago














        4












        4








        4







        It may help to think of "faculty" as both a collective noun and countable noun. In its guise as a collective noun, it may govern either a singular or plural verb, depending, respectively, on whether you're thinking of the faculty as a single group or as multiple individuals. The former is the default in AmE; the latter, in BrE. So in AmE, if I say




        The faculty are revolting.




        I mean that the members of the faculty disgust me. On the other hand, if I say




        The faculty is revolting.




        I mean that the faculty is about to storm the Dean's office.



        In its guise as a countable noun, "faculty" may take its plural form "faculties" to indicate separate, multiple groups (and of course will then take a plural verb):




        The three faculties of the School of Law, the School of Medicine, and
        the College of Arts and Sciences are meeting in plenary session.







        share|improve this answer













        It may help to think of "faculty" as both a collective noun and countable noun. In its guise as a collective noun, it may govern either a singular or plural verb, depending, respectively, on whether you're thinking of the faculty as a single group or as multiple individuals. The former is the default in AmE; the latter, in BrE. So in AmE, if I say




        The faculty are revolting.




        I mean that the members of the faculty disgust me. On the other hand, if I say




        The faculty is revolting.




        I mean that the faculty is about to storm the Dean's office.



        In its guise as a countable noun, "faculty" may take its plural form "faculties" to indicate separate, multiple groups (and of course will then take a plural verb):




        The three faculties of the School of Law, the School of Medicine, and
        the College of Arts and Sciences are meeting in plenary session.








        share|improve this answer












        share|improve this answer



        share|improve this answer










        answered Aug 10 '15 at 12:30









        deadratdeadrat

        42k25292




        42k25292













        • Then there is the literal meaning of faculty, which often appears in the plural: He is gradually losing his faculties.

          – John Lawler
          2 hours ago



















        • Then there is the literal meaning of faculty, which often appears in the plural: He is gradually losing his faculties.

          – John Lawler
          2 hours ago

















        Then there is the literal meaning of faculty, which often appears in the plural: He is gradually losing his faculties.

        – John Lawler
        2 hours ago





        Then there is the literal meaning of faculty, which often appears in the plural: He is gradually losing his faculties.

        – John Lawler
        2 hours ago













        0














        If you mean faculty as in the individual teachers within the group, then its common to say " faculty members" which is countable.



        Otherwise faculty refers to the entire group, which is also countable.



        So in your example:



        Many international faculties (as in different groups)



        Many international faculty members (individual members within the group)






        share|improve this answer




























          0














          If you mean faculty as in the individual teachers within the group, then its common to say " faculty members" which is countable.



          Otherwise faculty refers to the entire group, which is also countable.



          So in your example:



          Many international faculties (as in different groups)



          Many international faculty members (individual members within the group)






          share|improve this answer


























            0












            0








            0







            If you mean faculty as in the individual teachers within the group, then its common to say " faculty members" which is countable.



            Otherwise faculty refers to the entire group, which is also countable.



            So in your example:



            Many international faculties (as in different groups)



            Many international faculty members (individual members within the group)






            share|improve this answer













            If you mean faculty as in the individual teachers within the group, then its common to say " faculty members" which is countable.



            Otherwise faculty refers to the entire group, which is also countable.



            So in your example:



            Many international faculties (as in different groups)



            Many international faculty members (individual members within the group)







            share|improve this answer












            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer










            answered Aug 10 '15 at 9:22









            J. Paczuski J. Paczuski

            1522




            1522























                0














                But what about this, which I see often at work (in a university):



                "Twenty faculty will be chosen to participate in the program... "






                share|improve this answer








                New contributor




                cestjill is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                Check out our Code of Conduct.

























                  0














                  But what about this, which I see often at work (in a university):



                  "Twenty faculty will be chosen to participate in the program... "






                  share|improve this answer








                  New contributor




                  cestjill is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                  Check out our Code of Conduct.























                    0












                    0








                    0







                    But what about this, which I see often at work (in a university):



                    "Twenty faculty will be chosen to participate in the program... "






                    share|improve this answer








                    New contributor




                    cestjill is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                    Check out our Code of Conduct.










                    But what about this, which I see often at work (in a university):



                    "Twenty faculty will be chosen to participate in the program... "







                    share|improve this answer








                    New contributor




                    cestjill is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                    Check out our Code of Conduct.









                    share|improve this answer



                    share|improve this answer






                    New contributor




                    cestjill is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                    Check out our Code of Conduct.









                    answered 5 hours ago









                    cestjillcestjill

                    1




                    1




                    New contributor




                    cestjill is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                    Check out our Code of Conduct.





                    New contributor





                    cestjill is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                    Check out our Code of Conduct.






                    cestjill is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                    Check out our Code of Conduct.























                        0














                        When used in sentences like that one, the use of the word "many" implies that "faculty" is being treated as a countable plural noun.



                        What other answers haven't said directly is that this is not the usual usage of faculty. Faculty is usually used as a singular count noun (with the plural form "faculties"), or as a plural non-count noun (through "notional agreement").



                        "Many international faculty" is not linguistically acceptable to me. Some speakers might have different intuitions, but deadrat and J. Paczuski's answers seem to be based on the same judgement of the unacceptability of usages like "many faculty". The answer by cestjill (with the example "twenty faculty") provides evidence for speakers who might not share this judgement.






                        share|improve this answer






























                          0














                          When used in sentences like that one, the use of the word "many" implies that "faculty" is being treated as a countable plural noun.



                          What other answers haven't said directly is that this is not the usual usage of faculty. Faculty is usually used as a singular count noun (with the plural form "faculties"), or as a plural non-count noun (through "notional agreement").



                          "Many international faculty" is not linguistically acceptable to me. Some speakers might have different intuitions, but deadrat and J. Paczuski's answers seem to be based on the same judgement of the unacceptability of usages like "many faculty". The answer by cestjill (with the example "twenty faculty") provides evidence for speakers who might not share this judgement.






                          share|improve this answer




























                            0












                            0








                            0







                            When used in sentences like that one, the use of the word "many" implies that "faculty" is being treated as a countable plural noun.



                            What other answers haven't said directly is that this is not the usual usage of faculty. Faculty is usually used as a singular count noun (with the plural form "faculties"), or as a plural non-count noun (through "notional agreement").



                            "Many international faculty" is not linguistically acceptable to me. Some speakers might have different intuitions, but deadrat and J. Paczuski's answers seem to be based on the same judgement of the unacceptability of usages like "many faculty". The answer by cestjill (with the example "twenty faculty") provides evidence for speakers who might not share this judgement.






                            share|improve this answer















                            When used in sentences like that one, the use of the word "many" implies that "faculty" is being treated as a countable plural noun.



                            What other answers haven't said directly is that this is not the usual usage of faculty. Faculty is usually used as a singular count noun (with the plural form "faculties"), or as a plural non-count noun (through "notional agreement").



                            "Many international faculty" is not linguistically acceptable to me. Some speakers might have different intuitions, but deadrat and J. Paczuski's answers seem to be based on the same judgement of the unacceptability of usages like "many faculty". The answer by cestjill (with the example "twenty faculty") provides evidence for speakers who might not share this judgement.







                            share|improve this answer














                            share|improve this answer



                            share|improve this answer








                            edited 4 hours ago

























                            answered 5 hours ago









                            sumelicsumelic

                            48.9k8116220




                            48.9k8116220






























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