Collective Noun

A noun which denotes a collection of individual persons or objects is called a collective noun.

Examples are: crowd, mob, team, flock, herd, army, fleet, jury, nation, family, committee, government etc.

In British English, a collective noun may be treated either as singular (if the whole group is being thought of as a unit) or as plural (if the group is being regarded as a collection of individuals).

The committee has announced its decision. (The committee is regarded as a unit.)
The committee are divided on this issue. (The committee is regarded as a group of individuals.)

In American English, a collective noun is always treated as singular, and Americans say The committee is divided on this issue

Manjusha Nambiar

Hi, I am Manjusha. This is my blog where I give English grammar lessons and worksheets.

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