Is "public" plural or singular?
I wonder if the word "public" is plural or singular. Does anybody know?
Solution 1:
The adjective "public" is neither, since English does not as a rule mark number on adjectives.
The noun "public" is a mass and a collective noun. Unlike "people", it may take either plural or singular concord depending on the dialect and register and preference of the speaker. For example:
The public are getting restless about the austerity measures.
The public is getting restless about the austerity measures.
...have the same meaning and are both acceptable.