Collective Nouns

[bluemoon1]

I'm trying to explain to a non English speaker the term "only children" the plural of "only child", would I be correct in saying it's a collective noun?

[Gizmonster]

I'm guessing that you're on Duolingo learning Spanish like me??

Here's a link to the forum discussion:
https://forum.duolingo.com/comment/42980817?from_email=comment&comment_id=48051984

I've commented on the post, but I have a different username than the one I use on here :)

[Gizmonster]

This link is better, as the previous one take you to a specific comment on the discussion:
https://forum.duolingo.com/comment/42980817

[bluemoon1]

I ended up putting "only children" is the plural of "only child" I think that's correct and not misleading.

[jno]

yes, that's right. It sounds odd because "only" is usually an adverb rather than an adjective. But if you made it "tall children" or "Australian children" you can see how it would sound okay.

[bluemoon1]

//I've commented on the post, but I have a different username than the one I use on here :)//
So have I, I wonder if anybody can guess what it is. :)

[elliemay1]

At a guess I'd say 'Moonbeam'!

[bluemoon1]

LOL

[NickorWan]

'only child' is a noun, much the same as 'black pudding' is a noun.

[JimF]

Er, no! Child is a noun and pudding is a noun but, in this case, only and black are adjectives.

[NickorWan]

They are compound nouns, still nouns.

[JimF]

Oh, that's embarrassing! They are not compound nouns at all.

[Gizmonster]

//// At a guess I'd say 'Moonbeam'! ////

..... correct :)

[woofgang]

Nickorwan https://www.ef.com/wwen/english-resources/english-grammar/compound-nouns/

[NickorWan]

I don't know why you are linking that to me, woofgang, it is just confirming what I am saying. A compound noun can be adjective + noun, as in 'black pudding' or 'only child'.

[Chinajan]

It's a noun phrase

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noun_phrase

[NickorWan]

'The pudding with the black skin' would be noun phrase. 'Black pudding' is a compound noun.