> I am not exactly sure of the rules of grammar regarding this instance, but I will look them up and let people know. I will say that on first impressions the use of 'have' does actually look correct on the page. Reading the sentences and using 'has' seems to grate on my British sense of grammar, so I'll go with 'have'.
>

Yes, sports teams are plural in traditional British grammar, though countries are not. Eg, if you are talking about the *team*, it is correct to say that England have won, whereas if you mean the *country*, England has won. I've seen both usages here in NZ.

But FORTNIGHT??? "Fortnight" is not used in American English? Are you guys serious? What do you call half a month, then? Or don't you call it anything? I never even imagined this word wasn't standard English everywhere.

Can't wait to hear what other differences are revealed in the Harry Potter series. I guess the answer to my original disbelieving "Do they CHANGE the text of books from one country to another?" question is a big Yes.

Brunnen-"avidly reading the rest of this thread, but this is the quickest bit to reply to"G