Who run/runs the world (2024)

Your original idea was right.

The other examples are incompetent. Do not expect good English from popular songs.

Hello.

Well, here are my own personal thoughts:

Hello native English speakers.
I've always been taught that when forming questions starting with the question word 'who' and 'what' such as 'Who came to the party?', 'Who wants some cake?', we don't use auxiliary verbs and the question has the same word order as a statement. I've only seen old grammar books have examples like these 'Who did come?', 'What did happen?' (emphatic/emphasis wording) and to be honest, I've met some absolutely incompetent teachers who haven't even heard of what I've just written. Anyway, I also know that in such questions 'who' plays the role of a subject which is in 3rd person singular and therefore, the main verb has an -s ending. I was really surprised to hear my former English teacher say 'Who want to answer the question?' . Then, I thought I might have misheard her. However, the famous Beyoncé song 'Who run the world' has 'run', not 'runs'. Is it because she refers to all women? Is this standard English? (No, see comment below) I'm a bit confused right now...
I would be really grateful if you could answer my question.
Daniar

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Regarding the Beyonce song: This is dialectical usage.
Regarding your teacher: She was dead wrong.

Hello,

I would stick with the correct rule that questions beginning with 'who' take the verb in the third person singular. 'Who runs the world?' You can only use 'run' when making a statement such as 'those who run the world' - third person plural.

I can't. at present, think of any exceptions to this rule. Perhaps someone else will.

Unfortunately, I do not know "the famous Beyoncé song 'Who Run the World'" but I can say:

daniar said:

I've always been taught that when forming questions starting with the question word 'who' such as 'Who came to the party?', 'Who wants some cake?', we don't use auxiliary verbs

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This is incorrect. 'Who did come?', Who needs to know? Who can jump highest? Who is to be the leader? etc. are all correct.

I was really surprised to hear my former English teacher say 'Who want to answer the question?'.

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Perhaps she was tired. You and I know it should be 'Who wants to answer the question?'

However, the famous Beyoncé song Run the World has the sentence 'Who run the world?

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If you listen to the line of the song, it is very repetitive: the chorus sings "Girls" and Beyoncé adds "who run the world". (so we have "Girls who run the world.")

Who can be singular or plural: "I know many people who are poor." / "I know a man who is poor."
or, as a question:
A: "They are poor."
B: "Who are poor?"
A: "Those people over there are poor."

A: "He is poor."
B: "Who is poor?"
A: "That man over there is poor."

daniar said:

However, the famous Beyoncé song 'Who run the world' has 'run', not 'runs'. Is it because she refers to all women? Is this standard English? I'm a bit confused right now...
I would be really grateful if you could answer my question.
Daniar

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Standard English in a song? That is not normally one of the requirements....

The song title is "Girls Who Run The World", at least that's what I have found out, out there.

GF..

Note that many songs do use correct grammar.......

lyrics:- http://www.metrolyrics.com/girls-who-run-the-world-lyrics-beyonce-knowles.html

"Who did come?" is an emphatic form of the question, "Who came?"

Ex.
A: I invited several people over to my house yesterday but Tom, Susan, John, Mary and Sam didn't come.
B: I don't understand. Those are your closest friends. If they didn't make to the party, who did come?

Does that help?

daniar said:

Yes, now I understand. I never knew this! Is it used only in informal speech?

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No.

GF..

PaulQ said:

Unfortunately, I do not know "the famous Beyoncé song 'Who Run the World'" but I can say:This is incorrect. 'Who did come?', Who needs to know? Who can jump highest? Who is to be the leader? etc. are all correct. Perhaps she was tired. You and I know it should be 'Who wants to answer the question?' If you listen to the line of the song, it is very repetitive: the chorus sings "Girls" and Beyoncé adds "who run the world". (so we have "Girls who run the world.")

Who can be singular or plural: "I know many people who are poor." / "I know a man who is poor."
or, as a question:
A: "They are poor."
B: "Who are poor?"
A: "Those people over there are poor."

A: "He is poor."
B: "Who is poor?"
A: "That man over there is poor."

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It is confusing as her lyrics start out that way, but as you get into the song, it changes to "Who run the world? (Girls). Bugged me quite a bit when it was changed... I can't stand the song because of it.