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Believer Posted 20 years ago
Grammar

Variable collective noun

I am looking at a dictionary and it said that a variable collective noun is the noun that behaves like a variable noun but when it is singular it can be used with either a singular or a plural verb. Can you give me some examples of this?

Also, kindly tell me if you would use the article "the" as I have done in the underlined part?
  

Top answer

A collective noun , according to Webster's II: New Riverside University Dictionary is: "A noun that denotes a collection of persons or things regarded as a unit. usage: A collective noun takes a singular verb when the reference is to a group as a whole and a plural verb when the reference is to members of a group as single individuals: The orchestra was playing. ".

— RedPenCJ

  • A collective noun , according to Webster's II: New Riverside University Dictionary is: "A noun that denotes a collection of persons or things regarded as a unit.
  • usage: A collective noun takes a singular verb when the reference is to a group as a whole and a plural verb when the reference is to members of a group as single individuals: The orchestra was playing.
  • ".
  • As is done in the above definition, I would use the article "a" instead of "the" where you have made your underscore.
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1 Answers
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A collective noun, according to Webster's II: New Riverside University Dictionary is: "A noun that denotes a collection of persons or things regarded as a unit. usage: A collective noun takes a singular verb when the reference is to a group as a whole and a plural verb when the reference is to members of a group as single individuals: The orchestra was playing. The orchestr
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