Grammar III: Collective Nouns and Verb Agreement

Questions and Answers

Which collective noun would correctly complete the sentence: 'A ______ of players won the championship'?

team

Which collective noun is appropriate for a large number of bees?

swarm

Identify the collective noun in the sentence: 'A parliament of owls silently roosted in the trees.'

parliament

What is the correct collective noun for a collection of arrows?

quiver Signup and view all the answers

Which sentence correctly uses the collective noun for a group of fish?

A catch of fish swam in the tank. Signup and view all the answers

Which collective noun correctly completes the sentence: 'A ______ of thieves planned the heist.'

gang Signup and view all the answers

Which collective noun fits this grouping: 'A _______ of directors made the final decision.'

board Signup and view all the answers

Select the correct collective noun for a group of wolves.

pack Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a noun formed from a verb?

freedom Signup and view all the answers

Which noun refers to a quality?

bravery Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an uncountable noun?

bravery Signup and view all the answers

Which noun can be used in both singular and plural forms?

calf Signup and view all the answers

Identify the abstract noun formed from the noun 'friend'.

friendship Signup and view all the answers

What is the plural form of 'girl'?

girls Signup and view all the answers

Which noun is derived from the adjective 'wise'?

wisdom Signup and view all the answers

Choose the correct pair of countable and uncountable nouns respectively.

leaves, childhood Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of an abstract noun denoting a state?

childhood Signup and view all the answers

What is the noun form of the verb 'refuse'?

refusal Signup and view all the answers

Which of these nouns is in its uncountable form?

bravery Signup and view all the answers

From which word class is the noun 'pleasure' derived?

verb Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following pairs shows a noun correctly derived from an adjective?

happy – happiness Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a noun denoting a quality?

honesty Signup and view all the answers

Which pair of words cannot be correctly categorized as a countable and an uncountable noun respectively?

several cups – few happiness Signup and view all the answers

Which noun is derived from the verb 'speak'?

speech Signup and view all the answers

Which statement about countable and uncountable nouns is correct?

Much can be used with uncountable nouns. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following correctly matches the adjective to its noun form?

brave – bravery Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Collective Nouns

A collective noun is a single unit that refers to a group of people, animals, or things.
It always takes a singular verb.
Examples of collective nouns include:
A flock of birds
A class of students
A choir of singers
A crew of sailors
A band of musicians
A crowd of people/spectators
A company of actors
A gang of thieves
A group of dancers
A team of players
A troupe of artists/dancers
A staff of employees
A regiment of soldiers
A tribe of natives
A panel of experts
A board of directors
A congregation of worshippers
A catch of fish
A flight/flock of birds
A flock of sheep
A herd of cattle/elephants/goats/buffaloes
A litter of cubs/puppies/kittens
A host of sparrows
A team of horses
A troop/pride of lions
A pack of wolves
A swarm of bees/ants/rats/flies
A murder of crows
A pack of hounds
A parliament of owls
A colony of gulls/penguins/rabbits
A beaver's/birds' nest
A little of cubs/pigs/puppies
A cluster/constellation/galaxy/wonder of stars
A stack of notes
A wad of wood
A fleet of ships
A string of pearls
A library of books
A basket of fruit
A pack/deck of cards
A bouquet of flowers
A bunch of keys
A chest of drawers
A fleet of taxis/lies
A range of mountains
A wing of aircrafts
A quiver of arrows
A bunch/comb/hand of bananas
A pair of shoes
A colony of ants/caterpillars/frogs/soldiers
An album of stamps/autographs/photographs
An archipelago/chain/group of islands
An atlas of maps
An orchard of trees
An audience of listeners

Abstract Nouns

An abstract noun is the name of a feeling or quality that cannot be touched, tasted, heard, smelled, or seen, but only felt or experienced.
Examples of abstract nouns include:
Quality: kindness, honesty, wisdom, bravery, politeness, truth
Action: laughter, hatred, movement, theft, judgement
State: childhood, youth, slavery, freedom, sickness, happiness, poverty

Formation of Nouns

Nouns can be formed from verbs, adjectives, adverbs, and other nouns.
Examples include:
From verbs to nouns:
- Do - deed
- Please - pleasure
- Employ - employment
- Refuse - refusal
- Free - freedom
- Sell - sale
- Grow - growth
- Speak - speech
- Think - thought
- Judge - judgement
From adjectives to nouns:
- Honest - honesty
- Brave - bravery
- New - newness
- Different - difference
- Strong - strength
- Weak - weakness
- Happy - happiness
- Wide - width
- Hungry - hunger
- Wise - wisdom
From nouns to nouns:
- Mother - motherhood
- Neighbour - neighbourhood
- Owner - ownership
- Friend - friendship
- Thief - theft
- Infant - infancy
- Hero - heroism
- Patriot - patriotism
- Pilgrim - pilgrimage
- Master - mastery

Countable and Uncountable Nouns

Countable nouns can be counted and have both singular and plural forms.
Uncountable nouns cannot be counted and only have a singular form.
Examples of countable nouns:
Pencil - pencils
Bottle - bottles
Girl - girls
Switch - switches
Examples of uncountable nouns:
Bravery
English
Tea
Water
Salt
Note:
- A number can be added before a countable noun.
- We can also add 'a' or 'an' before a countable noun.
- 'Many' can be used with countable nouns.
- No number can be added before an uncountable noun.
- We cannot add 'a' or 'an' before an uncountable noun.
- 'Much' can be used with uncountable nouns.