Identifying Verbs and Adverbs s1

WORKING WITH COLLECTIVE SUBJECTS

In this module, you will learn to accord (make to agree) verbs in number with subjects that are
· Units of measurement
· Collective nouns.

Introduction

We investigate subject/verb agreement with subjects when they comprise units of measurement and collective nouns. In technical and business writing, we encounter these two concepts quite often.

Units of measurement

Units of measurement are subjects that appear to be plural but, in fact, may be singular or plural.

Whenever subjects are units of measurement and express periods of time, amounts of money, distances, weights, or any other technical measurement representing a total amount, the subjects take a singular verb. On the other hand, when these subjects indicate a collection of individual parts, the subjects take a plural verb. Let's look at a few examples.

Total Amount

"Five hours is the time limit for the race."

In this sentence, "five hours" is a total amount. You cannot treat the total number of hours individually; you cannot take the total amount apart and show individual hours. Therefore, the simple subject, "hours," is singular, showing one total amount.

Collection

"Five agonizing hours have passed since they crossed the start line."

In this sentence, "five hours" is a collection of individual units of time. You can treat the hours individually. Can't you imagine first ONE hour going by, then ANOTHER hour, then ANOTHER. Therefore, the simple subject, "hours," is plural, showing a collection of individual components.

Two more examples:

Total amount

"We realize that six dollars seems too much to pay for the tickets."

Using the same reasoning as with "five hours," we can see that the six dollars is a total sum of money. We cannot take the total amount apart to consider the individual dollars.

Collection

"More than a hundred dollar bills have disappeared from the petty cash box."

In this sentence, "More than a hundred dollar bills" is a collection of individual bills. We can take the collection apart--a dollar here, a dollar there.

Four more examples-- take your pick.

"Three square kilometres (MAKES or MAKE) a rather small ranch."

This sentence takes a singular verb (total amount).

"Three square kilometres of the farm (WAS or WERE) under cultivation to various crops."

This sentence takes a plural verb (collection). Come out to the farm, and you will see one square kilometre seeded to corn, one to wheat, and so on.

"Seventy-five pounds (WAS or WERE) too much for the girl to lift."

This sentence takes a singular verb (total amount). You cannot break this amount down into smaller units.

"We watched anxiously as 10 more kilograms of weights (WAS or WERE) added to the handicap."

This sentence takes a plural verb (collection). We can almost see the weights being added individually.

Explanation

Most students have trouble with the last example. So let's rewrite it to make it take a singular verb.

"We watched anxiously as 10 kilograms WAS added to the handicap."

Compare the two sentences, and you should see a definite need for the singular and plural verbs.

Procedure

When you encounter a unit of measurement as a subject, determine whether or not the "unit" is a total amount or a collection. Then

If the "unit" is a total amount, use a singular verb.

If the "unit" is a collection, use a plural verb.

Collective nouns

Just like units of measurement, collective nouns can be singular or plural.

Problem

The problem with collective nouns is that the noun is singular in spelling, yet the "singular" noun comprises many components. For example, a group is singular in spelling but may be made up of a dozen people. In school, "a group" usually refers to a gathering of students. Do we need to say the group of students "is" or "are" noisy? We have to decide if the collective noun, group, is singular or plural by examining how the noun is acting in the sentence.

Definition

A collective noun is the singular name for a gathering of nouns. Here is a list of some common collective nouns.

List:

Army, assembly, board, band, cabinet, choir, chorus, class, club, college, commission, committee, company, corporation, council, couple;

covey, crew, crowd, department, dozen, faculty, family, firm, flight, flock, gaggle, group, heap, herd, jury, lot, majority, minority, mob;

multitude, orchestra, pair, platoon, pod, pride, public, school, society, squad, staff, swarm, team, troop, union.

As we said earlier, a collective noun can be either singular or plural. We need to decide which.

If the collective noun is thought of as a single unit, the collective noun takes a singular verb. But if the components of the collective noun are acting individually, the noun is plural and takes a plural verb.

For example,

"The jury is adjourned for the day."

In this sentence, the jury, as a single unit, is adjourned for the day. The jury has acted as one entity. Therefore, the "jury" is singular and takes a singular verb.

However, in

"The jury are not in agreement on the amount of punitive damages,"

the jury, as individual members, are in disagreement with one another. Each jury member holds her own opinion. Thus, each member of the jury is acting on her own, individually. The jury is not acting as one entity. Therefore, the "jury" is plural and takes a plural verb.

Some collective nouns always take plural verbs. Here is a list of those collective nouns. Whenever you use them as subjects, make sure you use a plural verb.

List:

Cattle, clergy, people, police, poultry, vermin.

Procedure

To determine whether a collective noun is singular or plural follow the steps listed below:

Sentence:

"The committee (meets, meet) every second Monday."

1. Identify the verb.

We identify "meet" and "meets."

2. Identify the subject.

We identify "committee," a collective noun.

3. Identify one or individual action.

We ask: "Is the committee "meeting" as one, as an entity"?

Answer: Yes.

Therefore, the collective noun "committee" is singular and takes the singular verb meets.

Another sentence:

"The class (is, are) working on individual assignments."

1. Identify the verb.

We identify "is" and "are" working.

2. Identify the subject.

We identify "class," a collective noun.

3. Identify one or individual action.

We ask: Is the class "working" as one, as an entity?

Answer: No, individually, on "assignments."

Therefore, the collective noun "class" is plural and takes the plural verb are.

You should be able to condense the procedure by simply asking, "Are they (the collective noun) doing this together?" If yes, use singular; if no, use plural.

Review

Units of measurement are subjects that appear to be plural but, in fact, may be singular or plural.

Units of measurement showing total amounts take singular verbs.

Units of measurement showing a collection of components take plural verbs.

A collective noun has a singular spelling.

A collective noun names a gathering of nouns.

A collective noun can be either singular or plural.

If a collective noun acts as one entity, the noun is singular and takes a singular verb.

If the members in a collective noun act individually, the noun is plural and takes a plural verb.

Some collective nouns always take plural verbs.

Exercises

For the following questions, select an answer that correctly describes the sentence. The answers appear after the last question.

1. Five metres are insufficient overhead clearance for the proposed new entrance.