| Welcome to TeleLit. We hope you enjoy your visit. You're currently viewing our forum as a guest. This means you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are some features you can't use. If you join our community, you'll be able to access the forum, as well as being able to comment on blog posts that we have posted here. You will certainly enjoy it! Join our community! If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features: |
| Gripe: Collective noun | |
|---|---|
| Tweet Topic Started: Jul 10 2012, 12:13 PM (142 Views) | |
| Leon | Jul 10 2012, 12:13 PM Post #1 |
![]()
Administrator
![]()
|
Correct me if I'm wrong: I turned in an essay a week ago today, and the professor returned it today. I was a little upset, because I received a 76. As it turned out, that was the second highest grade, and it would end up being a 88 with the curve. However, that's not the point. This is a history class, but my professor deducted points for incorrect grammar. But I was right - he was wrong. I said,
He said, crossing out my "was". Yes, it should be "members were". However, I said "The Virginia Company was". The Virginia Company is a collective noun, so I would be right. He's right, too, that it is members were. But I didn't say members were, so I would be correct, and his deduction would be wrong. Am I not right? |
![]() |
|
| Dave | Jul 10 2012, 12:53 PM Post #2 |
![]()
Level 5
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
Technically your sentence works. However it is verb confusion. You start with a singular noun, but end the sentence with a plural noun. It probably isn't something that should have cost points, but it is a little unclear. |
![]() |
|
| Geoffrey | Jul 10 2012, 03:57 PM Post #3 |
![]()
|
I think saying The Virginia Company members were... would sound better, so I agree with your professor. It's extremely picky on his part, especially since it's not even an English class, but he's the professor. |
![]() |
|
| Leon | Jul 10 2012, 06:42 PM Post #4 |
![]()
Administrator
![]()
|
Yeah. I guess I was just angry he took points off for it ![]()
Ah, that's true.. :tut: Didn't think about that! :r |
![]() |
|
| Dave | Jul 12 2012, 01:02 PM Post #5 |
![]()
Level 5
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
In reality, it definitely isn't an english class, so it shouldn't have mattered either way. But, to stay in good form is an endless practice. |
![]() |
|
| Leon | Jul 12 2012, 01:34 PM Post #6 |
![]()
Administrator
![]()
|
Yeah. xD I'm not too upset anymore though, since I found I had the second highest grade. |
![]() |
|
| Geoffrey | Jul 12 2012, 03:58 PM Post #7 |
![]()
|
Could you have had the highest grade if you didn't do as badly on the paper though? |
![]() |
|
| Leon | Jul 12 2012, 04:02 PM Post #8 |
![]()
Administrator
![]()
|
Haha, maybe.. But I dunno. He never specified how many points were taken off because of that; he only said points were taken off. He's not very descriptive about grades. We get our final grade this coming Tuesday, with our final essay accounted for. I'm nervous to see how I did on it. :cry:
|
![]() |
|
| 1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous) | |
![]() Our users say it best: "Zetaboards is the best forum service I have ever used." Learn More · Sign-up for Free |
|
| « Previous Topic · General Chat · Next Topic » |













We get our final grade this coming Tuesday, with our final essay accounted for. I'm nervous to see how I did on it. :cry:

10:24 AM Jul 11