Choose the sentences in which the collective noun is used correctly:
(A) A squad of commandos was flown to the border village soon after the attack.
(B) Last night, the farmer’s sow gave birth to a school of nine piglets.
(C) A new cohort of students joined the nursing college in Kochi this August.
(D) Ramu’s cattles were sold at the village fair last week.
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → (A) and (C) only
(A) A squad of commandos was flown to the border village soon after the attack. — Correct.
- A squad is a small group of soldiers, police or players picked for a special task.
(B) Last night, the farmer’s sow gave birth to a school of nine piglets. — Incorrect.
- School is used for a group of fish.
- Young animals born to one mother at one time are a litter.
- Correct form: Last night, the farmer’s sow gave birth to a litter of nine piglets.
(C) A new cohort of students joined the nursing college in Kochi this August. — Correct.
- A cohort is a group of students who join a course or study together.
(D) Ramu’s cattles were sold at the village fair last week. — Incorrect.
- Cattle is already plural, so it never takes -s.
- It always takes a plural verb, as in “the cattle are”.
- Correct form: Ramu’s cattle were sold at the village fair last week.