umaa wrote:The police have significantly reduced violent crime and are pleased with themselves from doing so.
Is it correct?
Don't you think the below is correct?
The police has significantly reduced violent crime and is pleased with itself from doing so.
Police is a singular noun.
Found the first one as correct in Manhattan GMAT SC Guide. (Chapter5 - Pronouns)
What part of the sentence was underlined?
Either way, think of "the police" as a substitute for "the policemen and policewomen." If you think of it this way, it is easier to think of "the police" as plural. On the other hand, if you think of the police as a single unit -- as a police force -- then the sentence structure must reflect that.
With that said, it is my opinion that "police" is treated in the same manner as "cops" - a little more crude, but it makes a better point.
For the second sentence to be "GMAT friendly" I think a few changes would need to be made:
The police force has significantly reduced violent crime and its members are pleased with themselves from doing so.
The police force as an entity, cannot be pleased with itself. Its members, managers, and/or boosters can be proud, but a organization cannot.
Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice; moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue. - Barry Goldwater
(Inspired by Thomas Paine in The Rights of Man).
