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Sorry if it is confusing.

What does a Starbuck serve?

or

What do Starbucks serve?

The second one makes sense for me, since there are many Starbuck shops, but I'm still uncertain.

Which one should be grammatically correct?

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  • Then, what if I change "Starbuck" to "coffee shop", which one should correct?
    – Anakin
    Commented Nov 20, 2015 at 18:45
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    The restaurant is technically named "Starbucks"... so excluding the "s" even when singular would be incorrect.
    – Catija
    Commented Nov 20, 2015 at 18:47
  • What does a coffee shop serve? What do coffee shops serve?
    – StoneyB on hiatus
    Commented Nov 20, 2015 at 18:47
  • @StoneyB Yes, which one?
    – Anakin
    Commented Nov 20, 2015 at 18:48
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    Either one is fine.
    – StoneyB on hiatus
    Commented Nov 20, 2015 at 18:51

2 Answers 2

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The name of the company is Starbucks -- it is never written without the 's', whether you are speaking of the singular company, a single shop, or multiple shops.

If you are speaking of a single shop, use a singular verb:

What does the Starbucks on the corner serve?

If you are speaking of multiple shops, use a plural verb:

What do the Starbucks in Minneapolis serve that other Starbucks don't serve?

If you are speaking of the company, AmE use calls for a singular verb:

What does Starbucks permit its stores to serve?

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    What sorts of things are served in a Starbucks?
    – Catija
    Commented Nov 20, 2015 at 18:48
  • @Catija A graceful and ingenious way of sidestepping the issue!
    – StoneyB on hiatus
    Commented Nov 20, 2015 at 18:50
  • Actually, I was so focused on the lack of "s" on Starbucks that I didn't even think that the center of the question was do vs does
    – Catija
    Commented Nov 20, 2015 at 18:55
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I would actually just say What does Starbucks serve?

I think this, because Starbucks is a singular noun. Starbucks is a chain of stores. I think typically it is unnecessary to ask about one particular store, because a chain of stores all serve the same thing (almost).

I would think if someone asked about just one store that they were asking what that store serves that is different from all the other stores.

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    I agree; say it the same way as we would if the company name did not have an 's' at the end: What does Burger King serve?
    – J.R. ♦
    Commented Nov 20, 2015 at 23:23

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