Learn English – Is the noun “faculty” countable

countable-nouns

I know that the noun faculty can be both singular and plural, but I’m confused whether it’s countable or uncountable when used in sentences like this one:

Many international faculty have difficulties with. . . .

Best Answer

It may help to think of "faculty" as both a collective noun and countable noun. In its guise as a collective noun, it may govern either a singular or plural verb, depending, respectively, on whether you're thinking of the faculty as a single group or as multiple individuals. The former is the default in AmE; the latter, in BrE. So in AmE, if I say

The faculty are revolting.

I mean that the members of the faculty disgust me. On the other hand, if I say

The faculty is revolting.

I mean that the faculty is about to storm the Dean's office.

In its guise as a countable noun, "faculty" may take its plural form "faculties" to indicate separate, multiple groups (and of course will then take a plural verb):

The three faculties of the School of Law, the School of Medicine, and the College of Arts and Sciences are meeting in plenary session.

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