Is government singular or a plural noun?

[750plus]

Dear Manhattan Staff,

Please help me in addressing the below query

Is government a singular or plural noun ?

I have seen its usage both as a singular noun as well as a plural noun.

Please if you can clarify when do we use certain forms ?

Regards
Rajat Gugnani

[RonPurewal]

In U.S. English, it's singular.

[RonPurewal]

By the way—
For ANY usage in which regional differences exist, GMAC will provide proof of whatever is at issue.

E.g., check out #98 in the OG Verbal Supplement (can't reproduce here).
In that problem, "army" is singular, in accordance with standard American usage.
On the other hand, in many other countries, it's acceptable to write things like "The army are advancing". The GMAC writers, aware of these differences, have included the non-underlined "it" as indisputable proof that "army" is singular.

[750plus]

Thank You Ron.

[tim]

:)