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Vincent Teo Posted 19 years ago
Grammar
about collective nouns
Please let me know if they correct.
(a) A drove of cattle were grazing.
(b) A group / herd of buffaloes bath in the pond.
(c) A group of monkeys live in that tree.
(d) A troop / drove of deers were resting.
(a) A drove of cattle were grazing.
(b) A group / herd of buffaloes bath in the pond.
(c) A group of monkeys live in that tree.
(d) A troop / drove of deers were resting.
Top answer
Hi Vincent, I don't use "drove" myself. It's a herd of cattle, a herd of deer. Deer is both plural and singular - don't use deers.
- Hi Vincent, I don't use "drove" myself.
- It's a herd of cattle, a herd of deer.
- Deer is both plural and singular - don't use deers.
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19 Answers
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Hi Vincent,
I don't use "drove" myself. It's a herd of cattle, a herd of deer.
Deer is both plural and singular - don't use deers.
I don't use "drove" myself. It's a herd of cattle, a herd of deer.
Deer is both plural and singular - don't use deers.
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(a) A herd of cattle were grazing.
(b) A herd of buffaloes are bathing in the pond.
(c) A troop of monkeys live in that tree.
(d) A herd of deer were resting.
(b) A herd of buffaloes are bathing in the pond.
(c) A troop of monkeys live in that tree.
(d) A herd of deer were resting.
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If I insist on using the sentences, are these correct?
(b) A group of buffaloes bath in the pond.
(c) A group of monkeys live in that tree.
When should I use "drove" ?
(b) A group of buffaloes bath in the pond.
(c) A group of monkeys live in that tree.
When should I use "drove" ?
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Hi,
If I insist on using the sentences, are these correct?
(b) A group of buffaloes bath in the pond. Yes, but the verb is 'bathe'.
(c) A group of monkeys live in that tree. Yes.
When should I use "drove" ? Never, since you are asking for my advice
If I insist on using the sentences, are these correct?
(b) A group of buffaloes bath in the pond. Yes, but the verb is 'bathe'.
(c) A group of monkeys live in that tree. Yes.
When should I use "drove" ? Never, since you are asking for my advice
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I thought these collective nouns will take singular verbs. " A herd (of x) is .. A group ( is ...) etc except when you are referring to the individual animals of the group.
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SoorisI thought these collective nouns will take singular verbs. " A herd (of x) is .. A group ( is ...) etc except when you are referring to the individual animals of the group.If a group of words, especially a partative group, conveys the idea of plurality, a number of individuals, the verb is in the plural, even though the governing noun is singular, while
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A "drove" is a group [flock/herd/etc] of animals (or people) being driven.
A "troop/herd" of "monkeys/cattle" will always be a "group" but that doesn't mean that a "group" will always comprise a "troop/herd".
A "troop/herd" of "monkeys/cattle" will always be a "group" but that doesn't mean that a "group" will always comprise a "troop/herd".
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Vincent TeoWhen should I use "drove" ?I did a quick search on the internet and I found that one example of the use of 'drove' in relation to herds is this. I think you could only find people using 'drove' in this manner in literature. According to Google search, the phrase "droves of" is rarely used.
Droves of grey and brown horses grazed on
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b) A group of buffaloes bathe in the pond. (A group of buffaloes is called a herd.)
(c) A group of monkeys live in that tree (A group of monkeys is called a troop.)
Why should we use 'a group' when there are appropriate collective nouns for these animals?
It is beyond my understanding.
(c) A group of monkeys live in that tree (A group of monkeys is called a troop.)
Why should we use 'a group' when there are appropriate collective nouns for these animals?
It is beyond my understanding.
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