Collective Nouns: Singular or Plural?

Mark discusses the concept of collective nouns, explaining their usage as singular or plural based on context. He provides examples with words like 'team' and 'pair', illustrating how the focus on the group as a whole or as individuals affects verb agreement. Mark also highlights American English preferences for singular usage and explains the special case of 'police' always being plural. The video concludes with a call to action for viewers to engage with the content.

What is a collective noun?

• A specific type of verb

• A name for an individual item

• A plural noun only

• A name for a group of people or things

When is a collective noun considered singular?

• When the group acts as individual members

• When it refers to a single person

• When the group is thought of as one unit

• Always

What does the sentence 'The team is working hard' imply?

• Focus on individual members

• Focus on the team as a single unit

• The team is not united

• The team members are not working

How does the verb change when thinking of 'pair' as two individuals?

• Becomes an adjective

• Is not used

• Remains a singular verb

• Changes to a plural verb

What does 'The team are working hard' suggest about the focus?

• On the team as a whole

• On each individual member

• On external factors

• On the team leader only

In which case might you use a singular verb with 'pair'?

• When referring to two people working separately

• When thinking of two items as one unit

• When each item is considered on its own

• Never

Which statement is true about American English preference for collective nouns?

• Always uses singular verbs

• Mixes both without preference

• Generally prefers singular verbs

• Prefers plural verbs

What is the general rule for using 'police' in sentences?

• Always singular

• Always plural

• Neither singular nor plural

• Depends on the context

Why might there be different usages of collective nouns in English?

• Only to confuse non-native speakers

• There is no variation in usage

• Due to regional dialect differences

• Because of changes in modern language

What is encouraged at the end of the video?

• To stop learning grammar

• To ignore the rules discussed

• To provide feedback and ask more questions

• To only use singular verbs