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Chipw Posted 12 years ago
Grammar

this and these when referring to a group of things

The rule we all know is 'this' is for singular items and 'these' is for plural items. But what about a group of items? Is it a singular, one group? or is it a plural, multiple items?

For example - silverware (tableware) -> multiple spoons/forks/knives/etc

This is my silverware. (seems correct to me)
These are my silverware. (seems very clunky to me)
  

Top answer

Groups are commonly single. This is my dinnerware; but these are my dishes. This is my silverware; but these are my spoons.

— Wilpeter

  • Groups are commonly single.
  • This is my dinnerware; but these are my dishes.
  • This is my silverware; but these are my spoons.
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3 Answers
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Groups are commonly single. This is my dinnerware; but these are my dishes. This is my silverware; but these are my spoons.
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Yeah, I did a little more reading about it. Collective nouns can be singular yet refer to multiple things, or plural and refer to multiple groups of things. So using "'this/that' silverware" is correct. But in this example the word 'silverware' or 'tableware' is both singular and plural, compare -
This is my silverware.
These are my silverware collections.
That team is very good.
T
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Remember however: "These are my silverware collections."
In this case, silverware has become a modifier of collections, so takes the plural.
And "those teams" takes the plural word "teams", so also must be plural.
Worth the study though!
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