What words are used with collective numerals: girls, dogs, house, pupil, hammer, pupils? - briefly
Collective numerals in English are used with words that denote groups or collections of items. These numerals typically include terms like "both," "few," "several," "many," and "various." When considering the words "girls," "dogs," "house," "pupil," "hammer," and "pupils," it is important to note that collective numerals are appropriately used with plural nouns that represent multiple entities.
Collective numerals are not used with singular nouns like "house" or "pupil" when they refer to a single entity. For instance, "both houses" is correct, but "both house" is not. Similarly, "several pupils" is correct, while "several pupil" is incorrect. The word "hammer" is typically not used with collective numerals because it is usually a singular, countable noun referring to a single tool.
In summary, collective numerals are used with plural nouns such as "girls," "dogs," and "pupils" to indicate multiple entities. They are not used with singular nouns like "house" or "pupil" when referring to a single item, nor with tools like "hammer."
What words are used with collective numerals: girls, dogs, house, pupil, hammer, pupils? - in detail
Collective numerals in English are used to denote a specific number of items or individuals as a single group. Understanding which words can be used with these numerals is essential for accurate and effective communication. Let us examine the words "girls," "dogs," "house," "pupil," "hammer," and "pupils" in relation to collective numerals.
The words "girls" and "pupils" are plural nouns, which means they inherently refer to more than one individual. Therefore, they can be used with collective numerals such as "both," "several," "few," "many," and "all." For example, "both girls" or "several pupils" are grammatically correct and convey the intended meaning clearly. These nouns are flexible and can be modified by a wide range of collective numerals to specify the exact number of individuals being referred to.
The word "dogs" is also a plural noun and follows the same rules as "girls" and "pupils." Collective numerals can be used to describe groups of dogs, such as "a few dogs" or "many dogs." This flexibility allows for precise communication about the number of dogs being discussed.
The word "house" is a singular noun and typically refers to a single structure. However, it can be used with collective numerals when referring to multiple houses as a group. For example, "both houses" or "several houses" are correct usages. In these cases, the collective numeral modifies the plural form of the noun, even though "house" itself is singular.
The word "pupil" is a singular noun and refers to one individual. When using collective numerals with "pupil," it is necessary to use the plural form "pupils." For instance, "both pupils" or "several pupils" are appropriate usages. This ensures that the collective numeral accurately reflects the number of individuals being referred to.
The word "hammer" is a singular noun and refers to a single tool. Like "house," it can be used with collective numerals when referring to multiple hammers as a group. For example, "both hammers" or "several hammers" are correct usages. The collective numeral modifies the plural form of the noun, even though "hammer" itself is singular.
In summary, the words "girls," "dogs," and "pupils" are plural nouns that can be used with a variety of collective numerals to specify the number of individuals or items. The words "house" and "hammer" are singular nouns but can be used with collective numerals when referring to multiple items as a group. The word "pupil" is a singular noun that must be pluralized when used with collective numerals. Understanding these rules is crucial for accurate and effective communication in English.