Collective nouns and nouns of multitude

There are certain nouns in English which plurality is not marked by the endings. They are usually treated as collective nouns.

English collective nouns have two categorical meanings:

1. plurality as indivisible whole, i.e. when we use such noun we think of the group as a unit. These nouns are called collective nouns proper.When collective noun proper is the subject of a sentence the verb – predicate is in singular, because the unit is meant.

e.g. Our little group is complete again.

My family lives in Florida. (family as a social unit)

The bourgeoisie historically played a most revolutionary

part.

The audience was enormous.

The crowd has been dispersed.

The public consists of you and me.

The college football team has done badly this season.

2. discrete plurality, i.e. when we use collective noun but think of individuals. These nouns are called nouns of multitude. When the noun of multitude is the subject of a sentence the verb – predicate is in plural, because separate living beings are meant.

Thus, one and the same noun may be a collective noun proper and a noun of multitude.

e.g. The family were all dining when I phoned. (See 1/1.1)

The crowd were jumping over the fence running away

from the infuriated bulls.

The team are now resting.

The audience were enjoying every minute of it.

My family keep a close eye on Jacky.

The public were admitted to hear the trial.

Here is the list of collective nouns:

army audience committee

company crew enemy

family flock gang

government group herd

navy press public

team data media

staff jury congress

delegation party board

cast council the aristocracy

the bourgeoisie clergy the elite

the gentry parliament class

majority minority

☼ Note: The word ‘ majority’ is in the singular when it is used alone; if it is followed by a plural noun it is plural.

e.g. The majority believes the president will be

Reelected.

The majority of people believe the president

Will be reelected.

Some of the collective nouns, however, regularly require a plural verb. These nouns are: people, police and cattle.

e.g. Police (=policemen) have arrested the man who robbed

the bank on Park Avenue.

There were few people out in the street that hour.

☼Note: The verb – predicate is in the singular after the word ‘police’ when the organization is meant.

e.g. In that country the police was founded in 16^th

Century.

☼Note: The noun ‘people’ and ‘folk’ meaning ‘nationality’ can have a singular and plural form: a people – peoples.

E.g. Peoples of all countries all over the world fight

For peace.

 

Exercises