Difference between revisions of "Language/French/Grammar/Subject-verb-agreement-—-Verb-agreement-with-collective-noun-subjects"
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<div style="font-size:200%">[[Language/French/Grammar/Subject—Verb-Agreement|subject—verb agreement]] with [[Language/French/Grammar/Collective-nouns|collective noun]] subjects</div> | <div style="font-size:200%">[[Language/French/Grammar/Subject—Verb-Agreement|subject—verb agreement]] with [[Language/French/Grammar/Collective-nouns|collective noun]] subjects</div> | ||
A [[Language/French/Grammar/Collective-nouns|collective noun]] (nom collectif) is a singular noun that represents a group of things or people. | A [[Language/French/Grammar/Collective-nouns|collective noun]] (nom collectif) is a singular noun that represents a group of things or people. |
Revision as of 21:08, 23 November 2021
A collective noun (nom collectif) is a singular noun that represents a group of things or people.
- Some French examples include une série (a series), une poignée (a handful or fistful), un tas (a pile), une foule (a crowd), and, of course, un groupe (a group).
Although collective nouns can stand alone in a sentence, they are often followed by a complement (a group of something). The tricky part about using collective nouns is determining whether the verb should agree with the collective noun (and be singular) or with its complement (and be plural).
Generally, a collective noun in the singular requires the verb to be in the singular, as opposed to English where speakers use either a verbal form in the singular or the plural:
Collective Nouns in singular and verb in singular
- Le gouvernement a décidé de modifier la loi
The government has/have decided to change the law
- Le comité a proposé une nouvelle réunion d'information
The committee has/have suggested a new information meeting
- La famille passe les vacances de février en Normandie
The family is/are spending the February holidays in Normandy
Tout le monde
NB: "Tout le monde" always agrees with a singular verb:
- Tout le monde vient passer la soirée chez moi
Everybody is coming to my place for the evening
Collective noun followed by a plural complement
This may change, however, when the collective noun is followed by a plural complement. The verb may then be in the singular or the plural (although some speakers still have a preference for the singular):
- L'équipe de footballeurs italiens a (or ont) dû quitter Paris hier matin
The Italian football team had to leave Paris yesterday morning
- La foule de supporters ont (or a) été rapidement calmé(e)(s)
The crowd of supporters were rapidly calmed down
Note that in English there is a preference for a plural verb in these cases.