Forum Home > GMAT > Quantitative > Problem Solving (PS)
Events & Promotions
|
|
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.
Customized
for You
Track
Your Progress
Practice
Pays
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Dec 1511:00 AM IST
-01:00 PM IST
Attend this free GMAT Algebra Webinar and learn how to master the most challenging Inequalities and Absolute Value problems with ease.
Dec 1410:00 AM EST
-12:00 PM EST
Think a 100% GMAT Verbal score is out of your reach? Target Test Prep will make you think again! Our course uses techniques such as topical study and spaced repetition to maximize knowledge retention and make studying simple and fun.- Dec 14
11:00 AM IST
-01:00 PM IST
Attend this session to learn how to Deconstruct arguments, Pre-Think Author’s Assumptions, and apply Negation Test. 
Dec 1608:00 AM PST
-11:59 PM PST
GMAT Club 12 Days of Christmas is a 4th Annual GMAT Club Winter Competition based on solving questions. This is the Winter GMAT competition on GMAT Club with an amazing opportunity to win over $40,000 worth of prizes!- Dec 17
09:00 AM PST
-10:00 AM PST
Join Manhattan Prep instructor Whitney Garner for a fun—and thorough—review of logic-based (non-math) problems, with a particular emphasis on Data Sufficiency and Two-Parts. - Dec 18
10:00 AM PST
-11:00 AM PST
Here is the essential guide to securing scholarships as an MBA student! In this video, we explore the various types of scholarships available, including need-based and merit-based options.
09 Apr 2018, 09:16
Kudos
Bookmarks
Sorry if this may sound like a silly question since I am not a native speaker of English. I have been getting really confused with the usage of collective nouns like group of people, tribe of natives, bunch of stuff, etc. Should I treat all the collective nouns as singular or plural for the purpose of solving SC for GMAT? Or is there a different thumb rule to it?
11 May 2018, 04:54
Kudos
Bookmarks
Collective nouns can be subtle, because you have to tap into the MEANING of the sentence. Specifically,
* if the sentence stresses the uniformity or 'togetherness' of the group, then use the singular;
* if the sentence stresses individual actions (perhaps grouped together, but still regarded as clearly individual), then go with the plural.
* WHEN IN DOUBT, GO SINGULAR (this won't work 100% of the time, of course, but we find that most of these things - especially on the GMAT - are slanted toward the singular.)
Examples:
The faculty always votes for tuition hikes at the annual meetings. (singular, because the faculty is portrayed as voting AS A BLOC or UNIT)
The faculty commute very long distances from their homes to the campus. (plural, because, although all the faculty members commute, there is still an obvious individualism to their commuting)
Read Manhattan Blog
* if the sentence stresses the uniformity or 'togetherness' of the group, then use the singular;
* if the sentence stresses individual actions (perhaps grouped together, but still regarded as clearly individual), then go with the plural.
* WHEN IN DOUBT, GO SINGULAR (this won't work 100% of the time, of course, but we find that most of these things - especially on the GMAT - are slanted toward the singular.)
Examples:
The faculty always votes for tuition hikes at the annual meetings. (singular, because the faculty is portrayed as voting AS A BLOC or UNIT)
The faculty commute very long distances from their homes to the campus. (plural, because, although all the faculty members commute, there is still an obvious individualism to their commuting)
Read Manhattan Blog
General Discussion
11 May 2018, 02:45
Kudos
Bookmarks
I was studying from Aristotle SC today and read the chapter on S-V Agreement. It says the collective nouns are ALWAYS singular. Eg: A flock of birds is flying in the sky.
Also, it mentions words that are sometimes singular and sometimes plural, taking example of 'majority'
Majority is... (singular)
but
Majority of something are... (plural)
Eg: A majority is always right. (Singular S-V)
A majority of students are right. (Plural S-V)
I believe its matter of context, collective nouns shall be singular but there can be exceptions in such cases. Will be glad to know more.
Also, it mentions words that are sometimes singular and sometimes plural, taking example of 'majority'
Majority is... (singular)
but
Majority of something are... (plural)
Eg: A majority is always right. (Singular S-V)
A majority of students are right. (Plural S-V)
I believe its matter of context, collective nouns shall be singular but there can be exceptions in such cases. Will be glad to know more.
