7.3 Agreement with Collective Nouns and Indefinite Pronouns

Subject-verb agreement gets tricky with collective nouns and indefinite pronouns. These words can be singular or plural depending on context. It's crucial to understand when to use singular or plural verbs with them.

Collective nouns like "team" or "family" usually take singular verbs, but can be plural if emphasizing individual actions. Indefinite pronouns like "everyone" or "few" have specific agreement rules based on their meaning and usage.

Agreement with Collective Nouns

Understanding Collective Nouns and Their Usage

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• Collective nouns refer to groups of people, animals, or things as a single unit (team, family, herd, flock)
• Function as singular entities in most cases, taking singular verbs and pronouns
• Represent the group as a whole rather than individual members
• Common collective nouns include committee, jury, staff, audience, and class
• Require careful consideration of context to determine appropriate verb agreement

Singular and Plural Usage in Different Contexts

• Singular usage emphasizes the group acting as a unified entity
  • The team is practicing for the championship game
  • The committee has reached a decision on the proposal
• Plural usage highlights individual members acting separately
  • The faculty are divided on the new curriculum
  • The jury were unable to reach a unanimous verdict
• Context determines whether to treat the collective noun as singular or plural
  • Singular: The flock of birds is flying south for the winter
  • Plural: The flock of birds are scattered across the field, searching for food

Regional Variations and Style Preferences

• American English tends to favor singular agreement with collective nouns
  • The government is implementing new policies
• British English often uses plural agreement, especially in formal writing
  • The government are debating the new legislation
• Style guides and organizational preferences may dictate specific usage
• Consistency within a document or publication remains crucial
• Some collective nouns allow both singular and plural agreement depending on the intended meaning
  • The couple is celebrating their anniversary (as a unit)
  • The couple are arguing about their vacation plans (as individuals)

Agreement with Indefinite and Distributive Pronouns

Indefinite Pronouns and Their Agreement Rules

• Indefinite pronouns refer to non-specific persons or things
• Always singular indefinite pronouns take singular verbs (everyone, someone, anyone, no one)
  • Everyone is invited to the party
  • Something smells delicious in the kitchen
• Always plural indefinite pronouns take plural verbs (few, many, several, both)
  • Few were prepared for the sudden change in weather
  • Many have expressed interest in the new program
• Some indefinite pronouns can be singular or plural depending on context (all, any, more, most, some)
  • All of the cake has been eaten (singular)
  • All of the students have submitted their assignments (plural)
• Indefinite pronouns ending in -body or -one are always singular
  • Everybody wants to be successful in life
  • Someone has left their umbrella in the office

Distributive Pronouns and Agreement Challenges

• Distributive pronouns refer to members of a group individually (each, either, neither)
• Always take singular verbs and pronouns, regardless of the noun that follows
  • Each of the students has their own locker
  • Neither of the candidates was prepared for the debate
• Can create agreement challenges when used with plural nouns
  • Correct: Each of the team members is responsible for their own equipment
  • Incorrect: Each of the team members are responsible for their own equipment
• Often used with "of" phrases, but the pronoun determines the verb agreement
  • Either of the options is acceptable for the project
  • Neither of the siblings wants to admit they were wrong
• Require careful attention to maintain grammatical consistency
  • Each student in the class brings his or her own unique perspective
  • Every employee must submit his or her timesheet by Friday