Why is it “La pública esta aplaudiendo” instead of “están”? Isn’t the public plural?

Celia V.A2Kwiziq community member

Why is it “La pública esta aplaudiendo” instead of “están”? Isn’t the public plural?

This question relates to:Spanish lesson "Forming the present progressive/continuous in Spanish with estar + present participle (El Presente Progresivo)"

Asked 5 years ago

Like0Answer3

InmaNative Spanish expert teacher in Kwiziq

Hola Celia

Although in English, "the public" can be either singular or plural, in Spanish, this collective noun is always singular and we need to conjugate in the 3rd person singular, not plural.

Hope it helps.

Saludos

Inma

Like05 years ago

InmaNative Spanish expert teacher in Kwiziq

I have actually added a hint to that question, saying that it is a singular noun, to avoid confusion.

:))

Like05 years ago

Celia V.A2Kwiziq community member

¡Muchas gracias! :)

Like05 years ago

Celia V. asked:

Why is it “La pública esta aplaudiendo” instead of “están”? Isn’t the public plural?

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