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6/04/2012

Grammar basics - Collective nouns

Rules of Collective nouns

The committee is having its annual dinner (as a group)
The committee are going back to their homes (separately)

The following nouns indicating groups of animals are considered as singular

  • Flock of birds/sheep
  • School of fish
  • Pack of wolves
  • Herd of cattle
  • Swarm of bees
  • Colony of ants

The flock of birds is flying to its destination

When a collective noun indicates

  1. A period of time
  2. A sum of money
  3. A measurement

They must take a singular verb

Two weeks is enough time to finish the contract
Ten dollars is all I have

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