Staff Do or Does

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The word "staff" is a collective noun. This means that "staff" can have two meanings. For example:

1. A group of assistants to a manager, executive, or other person in authority.¹
2. The members of a group of assistants to a manager, executive, or other person in authority.

Here are some examples of using the word "staff" as a single unit:

1. The staff is busy.
2. The staff has a meeting at 3:00 p.m.

Here are some examples of using a similar word "team" as a single unit:

1. The team is busy.
2. The team has a meeting at 3:00 p.m.

Here are some examples of using the word "staff" as a collective group of people:

1. The staff are busy. (The staff members are busy.)
2. The staff have a meeting at 3:00 p.m. (The staff members have a meeting at 3:00 p.m.)

Here are some examples of using a similar word "team" as a collective group of people:

1. The team are busy. (The team players are busy.)
2. The team have a meeting at 3:00 p.m. (The team players have a meeting at 3:00 p.m.)

So, if you use the collective noun "staff" as a unit, then use the singular verb form (is, has, goes, etc.). If you mean every member of the staff, use the plural verb form (are, have, go, etc.).

If you want to talk about two, three, or more groups of staff, then the word is "staffs."

Here are some more examples. Remember, if you mean "staff" as ONE GROUP, then use the singular verb. If you mean "staff" as MANY MEMBERS in the group, then use the plural verb.

Singular: ABC Corporation hired a sales staff of 60 employees on Tuesday.
Singular: A sales staff of 60 empolyees was hired by ABC Corporation on Tuesday.
Singular: Our sales staff has one team leader and three engineers.
Singular: Each of our staff uses an iPhone at work.
Singular: My staff is waiting for you at the airport. (The one group of people who belong to my staff.)

Plural: ABC Corporation hired 60 sales staff employees on Tuesday.
Plural: Sixty sales staff employees were hired by ABC Corporation on Tuesday.
Plural: Our sales staff has one team leader and three engineers.
Plural: All of our staff use iPhones at work.
Plural: My staff are waiting for you at the airport. (Several members of the people who belong to my staff.)

Note: If you want to talk or write about several groups of staff (sales staff, engineering staff, administration staff), then use "staffs" and a plural verb.

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English definition of staff: (plural, staffs) A group of assistants to a manager, executive, or other person in authority.¹

Japanese definition of staff: 集合的, 単/複扱い□職員[スタッフ, 班, チーム, 陣](*特定の職員グループ, あるいは, ある責任者の下で仕事をする全スタッフ), □単複同形□フタッフの一員[職員, 部員, 要員]²

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1. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language

2. CD-ビジネス技術 実用英語大辞典 英和・和英/用例・文例 第4版

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