2007-09-17 04:22:51 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
A collective noun. That is ont which denotes a collection of persons or things regarded as a unit.
Usage Note: In American usage, a collective noun takes a singular verb when it refers to the collection considered as a whole, as in The family was united on this question. The enemy is suing for peace. It takes a plural verb when it refers to the members of the group considered as individuals, as in My family are always fighting among themselves. The enemy were showing up in groups of three or four to turn in their weapons. In British usage, however, collective nouns are more often treated as plurals: The government have not announced a new policy. The team are playing in the test matches next week. A collective noun should not be treated as both singular and plural in the same construction; thus The family is determined to press its (not their) claim. Among the common collective nouns are committee, clergy, company, enemy, group, family, flock, public, and team. See Usage Notes at government, group.
2007-09-17 04:50:08 · answer #1 · answered by ghouly05 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I have never heard of such an adjective and look forward to more answers. Would just like to say that a collective noun is something along the lines of "shoal (of fish)", "pack (of wolves)", etc..
Edit - We have two votes for "irregular", but I'm not convinced because the term is insufficiently specific. I thought of what such a term MIGHT be if it had yet to be invented. I decided upon "ambiguous" because sheep, fish, etc., depend upon context for meaning.
2007-09-17 11:44:50 · answer #2 · answered by picador 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
There is no specific term for the pluralized word but those types of nouns are called irregular nouns. eg:
sheep/sheep
deer/deer/
ox/oxen
2007-09-17 11:32:12 · answer #3 · answered by SexRexRx 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Collecitve Noun.
Such as sheep, geese, fish, etc...
2007-09-17 11:30:22 · answer #4 · answered by a5ian_n3rd 2 · 1⤊ 3⤋
it's the case of irregular plurals
2007-09-17 11:59:06 · answer #5 · answered by sietejunio 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I don't know the name for it, but sheep is already plural! : )
2007-09-17 11:30:56 · answer #6 · answered by kaytee3212 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
umlaut or mutated plurals:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_plural#Umlaut_plurals
2007-09-17 11:32:49 · answer #7 · answered by Xiomy 6 · 1⤊ 3⤋
cacti, mice
2007-09-17 11:29:11 · answer #8 · answered by zeon2b 3 · 0⤊ 3⤋