The armed forces hope to apply findings from such studies

[neb090]

The armed forces hope to apply findings from such studies to the care of about 1,200 service personnel who have lost a lower limb in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Source: Los Angeles Times, Melissa Healy, 2013

In this paragraph,

1. could I see armed forces as a collective noun and use hopes?

2. could I use lost instead of have lost?

 

[emsr2d2]

The armed forces hope to apply findings from such studies to the care of about 1,200 service personnel who have lost a lower limb in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Source: Los Angeles Times, Melissa Healy, 2013

In this paragraph,

1. Could I see treat armed forces as a collective noun and use hopes?
2. Could I use lost instead of have lost?

1. No.
2. Yes.

 

[neb090]

1. No.
2. Yes.

Doesn't the armed forces refer to "the military?" (includes the army, the navy, the air force)

 

[emsr2d2]

Doesn't the armed forces refer to "the military" (includes the army, the navy, the air force)?

It does but that's not the point. The term you use dictates which verb should be used.

The military hopes ...
The armed forces hope ...