Conjugating for La Famila

Question

I am confused about the word la familia when conjugating for it. The family, I thought would be conjugated into the third person person plural=They. The family is at the restaurant=They are at the restaurant. But in the examples below it is conjugated in the third person singular

The family is living in Chattanooga and driving to Atlanta La familia está viviendo en Chattanooga y manejando a Atlanta

The family is at the restaurant La familia está en el restaurante

Why not la familia están??

Thanks

Answer 1

We do the same in English, too. "The family" is third person singular.

You don't say, "Your family are big!" You say, "Your family is big!"

"The whole family is coming this afternoon. It is a really big family!"

Tu familia es muy grande! Toda la familia está llegando hoy por la tarde. Es una familia enorme!

Me encantaron tus ejemplos. :) - -cae-, Feb 28, 2013

Answer 2

Grammatically, the word "family" is an "it" not "they"; therefore it is 3rd person singular. So:

"The family of the bride is (not are) in the restaurant"

"La familia de la novia está en el restaurante" and, conversely,

"The families of the bride and groom are in the restaurant"

"Las familias de los novios están en el restaurante"

Answer 3

Thanks, I was getting myself confused. I was thinking almost like I was answering a question like where is your family? My family is at the restaurant or they are at the restaurant. Your right it is the same in English. Duh, oh well that's why we ask questions

Yes, never hestitate to ask, because another member may be struggling with the very same thing! - bandit51jd, Feb 28, 2013