(no subject)

[nadyezhda.livejournal.com]

I subscribed to pishu_pravilno because I thought it would be an interesting way to learn about mistakes native speakers make/questions they want to clarify. Here's one where I don't understand the reasoning: the question is, ""группа беженцев, в которой былО 18 человек"... Или "былИ 18 человек"?" (A group of refugees in which there were 18 people; the questioner wants to know whether you should use the neuter form or the plural form of "byit'"). All of the answers suggest using былo; can you clarify why? Thanks! Link to original question here: http://community.livejournal.com/pishu_pravilno/2703171.html

Comments

[anafignikvapshe.livejournal.com]

cause it`s an impersonal sentence. 18 человек isn`t a subject.

[oryx_and_crake]

it has nothing to do with being or not being a subject

[oryx_and_crake]

Both было and были is possible: someone gave you a link to Rosenthal, it gives an explanation why. See http://www.evartist.narod.ru/text1/64.htm, paragraph 183 (at the very top of the page)

[oryx_and_crake]

P.S. №184 probably fits your case better but still both forms are possible

В рассматриваемой конструкции сказуемое может иметь как форму единственного, так и форму множественного числа. Ср.: Вошло семь человек погони... (Лесков). – Наутро пятьдесят семь выходцев подали заявления с просьбой принять в колхоз (Шолохов).

[del-pasaran.livejournal.com]

May I try to explain? Well, since I'm Russian...
Группа беженцев, в которой былО 18 человек. This is the normal way any Russian would say it. It's just about some group of people. Impersonal. We don't specify who was there in that group.
You can also say группа беженцев, в которой былИ 18 человек. But in this case you are logically expected to specify who exactly were the members of that group: Mr. A, Mrs.B and her son C, etc, etc.

[nadyezhda.livejournal.com]

This is helpful; thank you for the explanation.

[del-pasaran.livejournal.com]

Anytime!