Subject-Verb Agreement with Collective Nouns Examples
Subject-verb agreement with collective nouns can be a tricky issue to navigate, especially for those who are new to writing or are not familiar with the rules of grammar. Collective nouns refer to groups of people, animals, or things, and they can be singular or plural in form, depending on whether they are acting as a single unit or as individuals. In this article, we will explore some examples of collective nouns and their subject-verb agreement, as well as some common mistakes to avoid.
One of the most common collective nouns is “team.” It can refer to a group of people working together toward a common goal, such as a sports team or a business team. When referring to a single team, the collective noun is singular, and the verb must also be singular. For example, “The team is working hard to win the championship.” However, if you are referring to individual members of the team, then the collective noun is plural, and the verb must also be plural. For example, “The team members are all talented athletes.”
Another common collective noun is “family.” It can refer to a group of people related by blood or marriage, or it can include non-relatives who live together as a unit. When referring to a single family, the collective noun is singular, and the verb must also be singular. For example, “The family is going on vacation next week.” However, if you are referring to individual members of the family, then the collective noun is plural, and the verb must also be plural. For example, “The family members are all excited for the trip.”
Other examples of collective nouns include “herd,” “flock,” “group,” “committee,” and “class.” The same rules for subject-verb agreement apply to these collective nouns as well. For example, “The herd of cows is grazing in the field” refers to a single unit, while “The cows in the herd are all different sizes and colors” refers to individual members of the herd.
One common mistake when dealing with collective nouns is to use the wrong verb tense. For example, “The group of musicians were playing their instruments” should be “The group of musicians was playing its instruments,” because the collective noun “group” is singular.
Another mistake is to use a plural verb with a singular collective noun, or vice versa. For example, “The committee were divided in their opinions” should be “The committee was divided in its opinions,” because “committee” is singular.
In summary, collective nouns can be singular or plural, depending on whether they are acting as a single unit or as individuals. When using a collective noun, it is important to use the correct verb tense and to avoid common mistakes such as using the wrong verb form or using a plural verb with a singular collective noun. By following these rules, you can ensure that your writing is clear, concise, and grammatically correct.