Section 2 Nose versus Eyes Ex 2.5
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Collective nouns on English Grammar
Collective nouns refer to groups of people, animals, or
things, treated as a single unit. They can be a bit tricky in English grammar
because they can be singular or plural depending on the context and how they're
used in a sentence. Here are some key points about collective nouns:
1. Definition: Collective nouns are singular
in form but can represent a group of individuals. Examples include
"team," "family," "audience," "herd,"
"flock," "crowd," "committee," "class,"
and "staff."
2. Singular or plural?: Whether a collective noun
takes a singular or plural verb depends on whether the emphasis is on the group
as a whole (singular) or the individual members within the group (plural).
3. Singular verbs with collective nouns: Collective nouns usually take
singular verbs when the emphasis is on the group acting as a single unit. For
example:
• "The
team is playing well."
• "The
jury has reached a verdict."
• "The
flock moves together."
4. Plural verbs with collective nouns:
Collective nouns take plural verbs when the emphasis is on the individual
members of the group rather than the group as a whole. For example:
• "The
team are arguing among themselves."
• "The
committee were divided in their opinions."
5. Variation in usage: In some cases, both singular
and plural verbs can be acceptable, depending on whether British or American
English conventions are followed, or on the speaker or writer's preference. For
example, "The government is considering the proposal" (singular)
versus "The government are considering the proposal" (plural).
6. Context matters: Pay attention to the context
of the sentence to determine whether a collective noun should take a singular
or plural verb. Consider whether the emphasis is on the unity of the group or
the individuality of its members.
7. Determiners and modifiers: The use of determiners and
modifiers can influence whether a collective noun takes a singular or plural
verb. For example, "a team of players is practicing" (singular verb
because "team" is the main subject) versus "the team are all
wearing red jerseys" (plural verb because the focus is on the individual
players).
Understanding how collective nouns function in English grammar helps ensure subject-verb agreement and clarity in communication.