merchandise was vs merchandise were

The correct phrase is 'merchandise was.' In English, 'merchandise' is considered a singular noun, so it should be followed by the singular verb 'was.'

Last updated: March 27, 2024 • 1551 views

This phrase is correct. 'Merchandise' is considered a singular noun.

"merchandise was"

Use 'merchandise was' when referring to a singular entity or collection of goods.

Examples:

The merchandise was displayed beautifully in the store.
The merchandise was of high quality.
All the merchandise was sold out.
The new merchandise was a big hit with customers.
The merchandise was carefully packaged for shipping.

Show examples from the web [+]

This merchandise was already promised to the gringos.
All of this merchandise was supposed to be shipped to Beverly Hills.
Look, I swear to you by all that's holy, I didn't know what the merchandise was.
The Scarface merchandise was also a kind of product of the fans, originally.
The merchandise was seized and the persons suspected of the fraud arrested.
Two weeks ago, a truck carrying 200 grand worth of Wah Ching merchandise was hijacked, probably by a rival triad.
The merchandise was checked and is being taken to the ship.
Any chance some of your merchandise was stolen last night?
Lamb doesn't even believe it's Mrs. Navarro... but the P.O. Box where the merchandise was sent is in her name.
Lamb doesn't even believe it's Mrs Navarro but the PO Box where the merchandise was sent was in her name plus she was wearing a diamond pendant purchased with one of the phoney cards.
Some parties contested recital (58) of the provisional Regulation on the basis that in the framework of the investigation the institutions did not carry out any test of whether certain merchandise was not suitable for free trade in the Union.
Thus, completion of its product range by importing Chinese merchandise was a sort of self-defence in order to cope with Chinese dumped imports.
All my clients have expensive merchandise.
So she was paying inflated prices for relatively worthless merchandise.
Great place to store stolen merchandise.
To sell secretly merchandise when arranged buyers.
Something about fresh merchandise giving problems.
Inventory checks are showing merchandise missing from our stock.
Your merchandise is too delicate for my taste.
Parts and materials charged separately should be included in general merchandise.

Alternatives:

The items were
The products were
The goods were
The stock was
The inventory was

This phrase is incorrect. 'Merchandise' is singular and should be followed by the singular verb 'was.'

"merchandise were"

Show examples from the web [+]

The live-action movies, the parks, the merchandise were all on fire, but Animation, well, we still seemed like a stepchild.
I've got the merchandise you were looking for.
I didn't know better, I'd think you were boosting merchandise off that work truck.
5 million yen in cash and about 2 million in merchandise... were stolen.
All my clients have expensive merchandise.
So she was paying inflated prices for relatively worthless merchandise.
Great place to store stolen merchandise.
To sell secretly merchandise when arranged buyers.
Something about fresh merchandise giving problems.
Inventory checks are showing merchandise missing from our stock.
Your merchandise is too delicate for my taste.
Parts and materials charged separately should be included in general merchandise.
Bulk newspapers and periodicals are included under general merchandise.
Our friend the ex-general is dying to unload this merchandise.
They have two long cases of merchandise.
A good merchant doesn't compete with her merchandise, sir.
Then you started dipping into the merchandise.
I want to move the merchandise, get out of this country.
I want to move the merchandise, get out of this country.
Every month I shop estate sales, vintage stores, and load up on merchandise.

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merchandise was vs merchandise were

"merchandise was"

"merchandise were"

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