Group (collective) nouns

NOUN

Особенности согласования существительных с глаголами в числе

Singularia tantum

· Iron copper sand coal bread cheese oil wine tea chalk

Tea is served hot.

· generosity curiosity anger foolishness excitement poetry fun sculpture

My curiosity has been satisfied.

But: idea-ideas, change-changes, suggestion-suggestions

· billiards draughts darts dominoes

Sports minister is willing to declare dominoes a national sport in Jamaica: “I am pleased that dominoes is being used to assist national development.”

· measles, mumps, shingles

Measles has steadily declined.

· physics mathematics phonetics optics ethics politics

Politics has always interested him.

· advice information progress knowledge money hair fruit news

What is the news?

This money belongs to him.

Fruit is cheap in summer.

But: There are apples, plums and other fruits on the table.

Pluralia tantum

jeans, pants, pyjamas, trousers, suspenders, shorts, trunks, drawers, braces

Your jeans are too tight.

pincers, glasses, spectacles, scales, scissors, tongs

Where are my glasses?

belongings, clothes, congratulations, contents, customs (at a frontier), funds (money), goods, manners (social behaviour), oats, premises (building),regards, remains, savings, stairs (a flight of stairs), steps (a flight of steps), surroundings, thanks

Babies don’t care what colour their clothes are anyway.

The goods are usually delivered in time.

but: Mr Pena-Rees says Customs is yet to apologise for its mistake.

cattle, police

Many cattle are suffering from this disease.

The police are chasing him.

Plural same as Singular

Singular	Plural
Barracks crossroads headquarters means series species works	barracks crossroads headquarters means series species works

A new glass works has been built near the village.

There are two brick works outside the town.

He found a means of helping them.

Are there any other means of helping them?

Group (collective) nouns

bank choir class club crew crowd committee family firm gentry government jury ministry orchestra party public staff team union

My family have decided to move to Nottingham. They think⁰ it’s a better place to live.

The average British family has 3.6 members. It is smaller and richer than 50 years ago.

NJ government taxes too much and spends too much.

The government is elected by a simple majority.

The Government are in ongoing talks with representatives of the waste collectors to enable them to equip their vehicles with devices that can weigh the wastes.

My firm are wonderful. They do all they can for me.

My firm was founded in the 18^th century.

The team is in Detroit now. They have a good chance of winning.

Дата добавления: 2015-11-16