0
Vincent Teo Posted 17 years ago
Grammar

About collective nouns

Which one is correct?

(a) a nest / brood of birds.

(b) a troop / a posse of policemen
a posse of soldiers

(c) a herd / a flock of buffaloes

(d) a host of stones / a host of sparrows / a host of camels
  

Top answer

VIncent: See this reference on special names for animal groups. There is a long list... html a) Brood is used commonly for chicks, and rarely for a few other bird types, but not generally for all birds.

— AlpheccaStars

  • VIncent: See this reference on special names for animal groups.
  • There is a long list...
  • html a) Brood is used commonly for chicks, and rarely for a few other bird types, but not generally for all birds.
  • b) Posse is used in Western books and films - it means a group of men temporarily appointed (deputized) by an official to go after some outlaws.
  • c) herd is used for grazing animals, flock is used for birds, school is used for fish.
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

2 Answers
0
VIncent:
See this reference on special names for animal groups. There is a long list... http://dictionary1.classic.reference.com/writing/styleguide/animal.html

a) Brood is used commonly for chicks, and rarely for a few other bird types, but not generally for all
0
0
Hi,

But bear in mind that many such collective terms, particularly those for animals, are never or rarely used by native speakers.
0

Related Questions