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.
A. The subject and the verb agree in number.
B. The subject is singular, so the verb is incorrect.
C. The subject is plural, so the verb is incorrect.
2. Fifty-two kilometres make the marathon race too long by about ten kilometres.
A. The subject and the verb agree in number.
B. The subject is singular, so the verb is incorrect.
C. The subject is plural, so the verb is incorrect.
3. Three hours out of every day was to be dedicated to individual practice at the athlete's
discretion.
A. The subject and the verb agree in number.
B. The subject is singular, so the verb is incorrect.
C. The subject is plural, so the verb is incorrect.
4. Sadly, only five nickels were all the children could collect for UNICEF.
A. The subject and the verb agree in number.
B. The subject is singular, so the verb is incorrect.
C. The subject is plural, so the verb is incorrect.
5. Six ounces of acid are needed for the experiment.
A. The subject and the verb agree in number.
B. The subject is singular, so the verb is incorrect.
C. The subject is plural, so the verb is incorrect.
6. The commission want to deliver a fair judgment.
A. The subject and the verb agree in number.
B. The subject is singular, so the verb is incorrect.
C. The subject is plural, so the verb is incorrect.
7. The group have stated different points of view regarding the reorganization plans.
A. The subject and the verb agree in number.
B. The subject is singular, so the verb is incorrect.
C. The subject is plural, so the verb is incorrect.
8. The team want very much to close the season with a victory over Central High.
A. The subject and the verb agree in number.
B. The subject is singular, so the verb is incorrect.
C. The subject is plural, so the verb is incorrect.
9. The jury has returned to their homes for the weekend.
A. The subject and the verb agree in number.
B. The subject is singular, so the verb is incorrect.
C. The subject is plural, so the verb is incorrect.
10. The committee have decided to adjourn for the day.
A. The subject and the verb agree in number.
B. The subject is singular, so the verb is incorrect.
C. The subject is plural, so the verb is incorrect.
Answers
1, B. 2, B. 3, C. 4, A. 5, B. 6, B. 7, A. 8, B. 9, C. 10, B.