Swimming against the tide

[Greybeard]

Kinda makes sense when you think of the term 'man' as a collective noun.

so what do we do with the term`men` cheers


OK, maybe 'man' is not a collective noun.

I'm thinking of a sentence like. "Primitive man rode a strange two-wheeled motor vehicle made by Birmingham Small Arms Ltd."

[kiwipom]

Greybeard, that statement is singular where man could easily be changed by woman. If man was replaced with men the whole statement would have to be changed as in : primitive men rode stranged two wheel vehicles, where in if woman was not replaced with women the statement would still be singular , that’s my spin on it, cheers

[cyclobutch]

It's the same with fish though isn't it.

[Greybeard]

It's the same with fish though isn't it.

Did they ride primitive motorcycles as well?

[Rex]

No, apparently they tried bicycles but gave up....