crowd

English as a Second Language English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
1

Hi,

Which of the following sentences is/are correct?

  1. A crowd of people is sitting in front of the gate.

  2. A crowd of people are sitting in front of the gate.

  3. The crowd is sitting in front of the gate.

  4. The crowd are sitting in front of the gate.

Thank you.

Justin

2

It depends that you think of the collective noun “crowd” as a large number of individuals (plural verb) or a whole (singular verb). I think both are possible in your sentences.
However if you mean “the crowd” is ordinary people, not special or unusual in any way, the verb is singular. In this case, you want to set yourself apart from them or to be a part of them.

Find out more here oxfordlearnersdictionaries.c … sh/crowd_1

I’m not a native speaker so I have a difficulty to explain it further. Hope someone else can give you a better advice.

3

Both are possible depending upon whether the speaker wishes to emphasise the crowd (singular) or the people (plural)