Collective nouns in English

[Rachel Adams]

This screenshot is from the book "English Grammar Rules and Exercises" by Tatiana Kamianova. Could you tell me please if all collective nouns take either a singular or a plural verb?

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I am editing the post. I am going to type each noun.

Group, army, public, council, people, staff, gentry, herd, flock, machinnery, family, committee, audience, majority, team, board, peasantry, poultry, swarm, furniture, police, society, company, minority, crowd, jury, gentry, cattle, foliage, hair, luggage, baggage, traffic.

 

[5jj]

You have a mixed bag there.

If your book tells you that they are all collective nouns and work in the same way, it is wrong.

 

[Rachel Adams]

You have a mixed bag there.

If your book tells you that they are all collective nouns and work in the same way, it is wrong.

No, it says they are all collective nouns, but it doesn't they if with each of them either a singular or a plural verb can be used. That's what I am trying to find out.

 

[5jj]

It is not possible to give general advice for such a diverse group of words. Ask about individual words as you need to use them.

 

[Rachel Adams]

It is not possible to give general advice for such a diverse group of words. Ask about individual words as you need to use them.

OK. If I try to use any of them in my sentences would either the singular or the plural form be correct?

1. "The public was/were shocked.
2. "Our army has/have different divisions."

3. "The people here are very friendly."

4. "The English are a very polite people."

5. The baggage is/are sent abroad."

6. "The luggage is/are sent abroad."

7. "Society has/have changed."

8. "Committee meets/meet at five."

9. "The audience is /are waiting."

 

[5jj]

As you continue to ignore our repeated requests to ask about one word/phrase sentence per post, I shall ignore your posts from now on. I shall simply add you to my ignore list.

 

[Rachel Adams]

As you continue to ignore our repeated requests to ask about one word/phrase sentence per post, I shall ignore your posts from now on. I shall simply add you to my ignore list.

I haven't ignored any requests. You asked about individual words I was going to use, so I posted my examples.

Goodbye!

 

[emsr2d2]

You have ignored multiple requests to ask us about one sentence at a time. I have faded out the rest of the sentences and left just sentence 1 for us to deal with.