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Gripe: Collective noun
Topic Started: Jul 10 2012, 12:13 PM (142 Views)
Leon
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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,
Quote:
 
The Virginia Company was a group of wealthy aristocrats.

He said,
Quote:
 
"Members were"
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?
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Dave
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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.
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Geoffrey
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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.
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Leon
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Geoffrey
Jul 10 2012, 03:57 PM
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.

Yeah. I guess I was just angry he took points off for it :glare:
Dave
Jul 10 2012, 12:53 PM
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.

Ah, that's true.. :tut: Didn't think about that! :r

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Dave
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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.
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Leon
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Yeah. xD I'm not too upset anymore though, since I found I had the second highest grade.
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Geoffrey
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Could you have had the highest grade if you didn't do as badly on the paper though?
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Leon
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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:
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