Nouns of Multitude

Nouns of Multitude :



There is a difference between a Collective Noun and a Noun of Multitude.

A Collective Noun denotes one undivided whole and hence the Verb following is Singular.

A jury consists of twelve persons.

Nouns of Multitude denote the individual members of the group and hence the Verb is taking Plural, although the Noun is Singular.

The jury (the men on the jury) were divided in their opinions.

A Collective Noun denotes one undivided whole and hence the Verb following is Singular.

When the noun is used to indicate the complete collection, the noun is used as a collective noun. But, when the noun is used to indicate all the individuals, the noun is used as a noun of multiple.

For example :

The team has been chosen by the board.

In this sentence, the noun TEAM is used a collective one. That TEAM was chosen by the board.

The team were all non-vegetarians.

But in this sentence, the noun TEAM means all the individuals in that team. The sentence implies that all the members of that team are non-vegetarians.

The difference between how a same noun can be used as a collective noun or as a noun of this type can be made by few simple examples.

The party is full of men, women and students. (The noun PARTY is used as a collective noun.)

The party were all killed by the earth-quake.

The Police is a government department to maintain law and order. (The noun POLICE is used as a collective noun.)

The Police were full of corrupt people.

The COMMITTEE was formed to look after the students. (The noun COMMITTEE is used as a collective noun.)

The committee were of the same opinions.

The family is divided in this matter. (The noun FAMILY is used as a collective noun.)

The family are good doctors.

Before the jury returns with their verdict-paper, we have to discuss this matter.

In this sentence, the noun JURY takes singular verb RETURNS in the first part of the sentence, where in the second part of the same sentence, the same noun JURY takes plural form THEIR. Because, in the first part the noun JURY is used as a collective noun where as in the second part the same noun is used as a noun of multiple.

Another example of sentence in which the same noun is used differently in two different modes of nouns.

His family is doing well and send their wishes.

RELATED PAGES :

1. The Noun
   
2. Kinds of Nouns
   
3. Kinds of Nouns in English
   
4. Types of Nouns in English
   
5. Correct Usage of Nouns
   
6. Classification of Nouns
   
7. Proper Nouns
   
8. Common Nouns
   
9. Abstract Nouns
   
10. Collective Nouns
    
11. Nouns of Multitude
    
12. Material Nouns
    
13. Compound Nouns
    
14. Concrete Nouns
    
15. Countable Nouns
    
16. Uncountable Nouns
    
17. Count Nouns
    
18. Mass Nouns
    
19. Pronouns
20. Abstract Nouns formed from Adjectives
    
21. Abstract Nouns formed from Common Nouns
    
22. Abstract Nouns formed from Verbs
    
23. Abstract Nouns of the same form as Verbs
    
24. Absolute Phrases
    
25. Noun and Gender
    
26. Nouns and Gender
    
27. Masculine Nouns and Feminine Nouns
    
28. Masculine Nouns
    
29. Feminine Nouns
    
30. Ways of forming the feminine of nouns
    
31. Exceptional Masculine Nouns and Feminine Nouns
    
32. Exceptional Feminine Nouns
    
33. Foreign Feminine Nouns
    
34. Nouns in Common Gender
    
35. Common Gender Nouns
    
36. Neuter Pronouns
    
37. Neuter Gender Nouns
    
38. Gender of Personified Things
    
39. Noun and Case
    
40. Kinds of Cases in English
    
41. Noun and Number
    
42. Singular and Plural
    
43. Singular Nouns and Plural Nouns
    
44. Ways of forming plurals
    
45. Formation of Plurals
    
46. Compound Nouns and Plurals
    
47. Noun Infinitive
    
48. Noun to Verb
    
49. The Noun
    

Nouns of Multitude :

Nouns of Multitude To HOME PAGE

The Sentences Index