Download Collective Nouns - s3.amazonaws.com

Collective Nouns
A collective noun name a group
made up of a number of people
or things.
Family
Crowd
Class
Team
Question #1
Which of the following is a
collective noun?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Sports
Bleachers
Team
Fan
Nouns and verbs in sentences
must always show agreement.
What does this mean?
Let me show you.
The subject and verb in the
following sentence agree.
They were happy.
The subject and verb in the
following sentence do not agree.
They was happy.
They were happy.
We call this a plural subject.
They were happy.
We call this verb a plural verb
because it goes with the plural
subject.
Just think of it this way.
If the subject is singular, you
need the verb that goes with it.
If the subject is plural, you need
the verb that goes with they.
How do you know which verb
goes with it and which verb
goes with they?
Try these on your paper.
It (go/goes).
They (run/runs).
Did you get them right?
How did you know?
You know the proper conjugation
of most words.
The proper CONJA-WHATING?!?
Verb conjugation looks like this.
I run.
You run.
He/she runs.
We run.
You run.
They run.
I am
You are.
He/she is.
We are.
You are.
They are.
But don’t worry. You can use the word that
sounds right.
If the noun is singular use the verb the
sounds right with it.
If the noun is plural use the verb the sounds
right with they.
Try these.
The tha is/are red.
The hat is red.
The hewesl is/are round.
The wheels are round
(singular)
(plural)
Here’s the problem
Every collective noun can have
both a singular and plural
meaning.
This means you have to think
about how it is being used in a
sentence in order to know if the
noun is singular or plural.
A collective noun is singular if
If you are speaking about the group
as a unit.
Use ‘it’ to help you with agreement.
A collective noun is plural if
You are referring to the individual
members of the group.
Use ‘they’ to help you with
agreement.
Singular or Plural?
The entire audience applauds the
performers.
The audience take their seats.
The family begins its trip.
Question #2
Is the underlined collective noun
singular or plural?
The flock enters by different gates.
a. Singular
b. Plural
Question #3
Is the underlined collective noun
singular or plural?
The whole flock enters through the
gate.
a. Singular
b. Plural
Question #4
Which verb best completes the sentence?
The family __________ their rooms.
a. Cleans
b. Clean
Question #5
The team _________ its first game.
a. Play
b. plays