parallel_chase wrote:Both the caribou and the reindeer belong to the species Rangifer Tardus, but after 7000 years of domestication in Eurasia, reindeer have developed a tendency to circle in tight groups, while caribou tend to spread far and wide.

A. belong to the species Rangifer Tardus, but after 7000 years of domestication in Eurasia, reindeer have developed a tendency to circle in tight groups, while caribou tend

B. belong to the same species, Rangifer tarandus, but about 7000 years of domestication in Eurasia have developed reindeer's tendency to circle in tight groups, which is different from that tend

C. belong to the species Rangifer tarandus, but being domesticated in Eurasia for about 7000 years has developed reindeer's to circle in tight groups, and that is different from carbiou tending

D. are the same species, Rangifer tarandus,but about 7000 years of domestication in Eurasia have developed reindeer's tendency to circle in tight groups, while the tendency is for carbiou


E. are the same species, Rangifer tarandus,but being domesticated in Eurasia for about 700 years has developed the reindeer's tendency to circle in tight groups, which differs from caribou tending

OA to follow.

B. belong to the same species, Rangifer tarandus, but about 7000 years of domestication in Eurasia have developed reindeer's tendency to circle in tight groups, which is different from that tend

C. belong to the species Rangifer tarandus, but being domesticated in Eurasia for about 7000 years has developed reindeer's ?? to circle in tight groups, and that is different from caribou tending

D. are the same species, Rangifer tarandus,but about 7000 years of domestication in Eurasia have developed reindeer's tendency to circle in tight groups, while the tendency is for carbiou

E. are the same species, Rangifer tarandus,but being domesticated in Eurasia for about 700 years has developed the reindeer's tendency to circle in tight groups, which differs from caribou tending

mals24 wrote:Here's the rule: (taken from Wren and Martin)

A collective noun takes a singular verb when the collection is thought of as one whole, when you think of the group as a unit.

A collective noun takes a plural verb when the individuals of which it is composed are thought of.

Now in this situation, the reindeer and caribou have not developed their respective tendencies as a unit in 7000 years.
Its not like all the reindeers in the world developed their tendency at the same time in 7000 years.
So here we are referring to the individual reindeers and not considering the reindeers and caribou as a unit.

I know my explanation sounds Greek at the moment so read the explanation given in the following website you will understand this rule better:

https://www.chompchomp.com/terms/collectivenoun.htm

ssgmatter wrote:although A makes the most sense of all the options in this one....My only concern with A is whether it should be reindeer HAS/HAVE....although i understand the explanations posted above but i guess in this case it is talking about one reindeer so it should be has....

is there some typo error....

let us discuss.

pesfunk wrote:Could someone please throw some light on this ?

ssgmatter wrote:although A makes the most sense of all the options in this one....My only concern with A is whether it should be reindeer HAS/HAVE....although i understand the explanations posted above but i guess in this case it is talking about one reindeer so it should be has....

is there some typo error....

let us discuss.