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What are collective nouns?
What are collective nouns?
definition
definition
- collective nouns can signify a group of people or things
- nouns that refer to one thing that is made up of many pieces are singular collective nouns
- they are not plural unless the writer makes them plural (just like with any other noun)
- scroll down for examples
video lessons
video lessons
- none available at this time
Example #1
Example #1
herd: a group of animals
singular: A herd of cattle grazed the field. Herd is singular; it is one group of cattle.
plural: Herds of cattle were corralled into the barnyard. This means there were at least two different groups, herds, of cattle that were brought in. Herds in a plural collective noun.
Example #2
Example #2
team: a group of people; it is singular
The team IS on on the bus.
We do not write the team ARE on the bus--ahhhh--I cringe at that.
What's the point?
What's the point?
Most collective nouns are treated as though they are singular, one thing. As in
singular: The boy IS on the bus.
plural: The boys ARE on the bus.
singular: The team IS on the bus.
plural: The teams ARE on the bus.
Example #3
Example #3
How do you know when a groups of things is collective?
How do you know when a groups of things is collective?
Is the word pencils collective?
It is more than one thing?
Would I write this?
The pencils is on the table?
NO! It is plural.
The pencils ARE on the table.
The pencil IS on the table.
So that's your first test.
Pencil is a common noun.
The word pencils is NOT a collective noun.
Pencils is just a plural form of the noun pencil.
Practice Exercises
Practice Exercises
for a list of common collective nouns: click here
for a list of common collective nouns: click here
1
1
- collective nouns #1 exercise: 15 points in QUIA: click here
2
2
- collective nouns exercise #2: DO part A only: click here
2a
2a
- independent learning: a Hyperdoc assignment on Collective Nouns: click here
- click here for that crazy long list of collective nouns from the hyperdoc
3
3
- collective nouns exercise #3: DO part B only: click here
4
4
- collective nouns exercise #4: 14 points in QUIA: click here
test
test
- collective nouns TEST in QUIA: 12 points: click here
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