Agreement With Collective Nouns
Some collective nouns take singular agreement, while djeca and braća combine with plural verbs and characteristic adjective forms.
How It Works
Collective nouns package a group as a whole. Lišće and cvijeće have neuter singular agreement: lišće je zeleno. Momčad normally has feminine singular agreement: momčad je spremna.
Djeca and braća use plural finite verbs: djeca su stigla, braća su odrasla. The -a participle or adjective form is part of this agreement pattern, not evidence that su should be changed to je.
Learn a collective noun with a complete example. Its meaning, dictionary gender and ending do not separately predict every agreement choice. Do not extend the djeca pattern to all nouns ending in -ad or to every noun naming a group.
Examples (3)
- Lišće je palo na stazu.
The leaves have fallen onto the path.
- Naša je momčad spremna za utakmicu.
Our team is ready for the match.
- Djeca su danas bila posebno vesela.
The children were especially cheerful today.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Collective noun agreement extends the irregular plurals and adjective-number patterns.
Related Patterns
Practice Agreement With Collective Nouns in Bubblegum
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