Subject-verb agreement is a crucial aspect of writing clear and grammatically correct sentences. Collective nouns present unique challenges in this regard, as they refer to groups of people, animals, or things as a single unit. In this article, we will explore how to ensure subject-verb agreement with collective nouns, with examples to illustrate the point.
First, let`s define collective nouns. They are singular in form but refer to a group of individuals or things. Examples include committee, team, family, herd, flock, group, and class. When using collective nouns in a sentence, it is important to remember that they function as singular subjects, even though they refer to multiple individuals.
For instance, consider the sentence “The team is practicing every day.” Here, the collective noun “team” functions as a singular subject, and the verb “is” agrees with it. In contrast, the sentence “The team are arguing about who should lead the project” is incorrect because the plural verb “are” does not agree with the singular subject “team.”
Let`s look at a few more examples of subject-verb agreement with collective nouns:
– The committee has reached a decision. (correct)
– The committee have been debating for hours. (incorrect)
– The class is studying Shakespeare this semester. (correct)
– The class are divided on their opinions about Macbeth. (incorrect)
– Our family loves to go on hikes together. (correct)
– Our family have different tastes in music. (incorrect)
– The herd of cows is grazing in the field. (correct)
– The herd of cows were scared by the sudden thunderstorm. (incorrect)
– The swarm of bees is buzzing around the hive. (correct)
– The swarm of bees were disturbed by the loud noise. (incorrect)
Note that in each of these examples, the verb agrees with the singular collective noun. When using collective nouns, it is essential to avoid the temptation to use plural verbs, even if the noun refers to multiple individuals.
In conclusion, subject-verb agreement with collective nouns is straightforward once you understand that they function as singular subjects. By using the correct verb form, you ensure that your writing is clear, grammatically correct, and easy to understand. So, the next time you encounter a collective noun, remember to treat it as a singular subject and use a singular verb form.