Is century a collective noun? Is century a common noun? Is century an abstract noun? Which type of noun is century?
Welcome, students! When we talk about a period of 100 years, we use the word 'century'. The word century is a collective noun because it names a group of 100 years as a single unit. It is also a common noun and an abstract noun because time is a concept. Let's explore these ideas.
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Century is a Collective Noun. Century is not a Proper Noun. Century is a common noun as well as an abstract noun.
The word 'century' is a collective noun because it names a group of 100 individual years as a single entity. Collective nouns represent a whole made of parts.
- In the sentence, "The 20th century saw many technological advances," the word 'century' stands for a block of one hundred years.
- 'Century' is also a common noun because it's a general term for a 100-year period. If we name a specific century, like the "Victorian era" (which occurred in the 19th Century), that becomes a proper noun.
Functions of 'Century' in a Sentence
As a noun, 'century' can serve various functions in a sentence:
- As a Subject: A century is a long time.
- As a Direct Object: The cricketer scored a brilliant century.
- As an Object of a preposition: The building has stood for over a century.
- As a Subject Complement: His greatest achievement was his first century.
Different Uses of the Noun 'Century'
The word 'century' is used to describe a collection of 100 of something, usually years or runs in cricket.
- For Time (Collective): It is used for a period of 100 years.
Example: The 21st century. - For Sports (Collective): In cricket, it refers to a score of 100 runs made by a single batsman.
Example: Sachin Tendulkar scored his 100th international century.
'Century' (Common Noun) vs. Specific Centuries (Proper Nouns)
It is important to understand the difference between the common noun 'century' and the proper nouns that are the names of specific time periods.
| Common Noun | Proper Noun (Specific Era/Name) | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| century | The Renaissance | The Renaissance was a period of great change, spanning more than one century. |
| century | Sachin Tendulkar | Sachin Tendulkar is famous for scoring many a century for India. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is century a collective noun?
Yes, century is a collective noun because it refers to a group of 100 years as a single unit.
Is century a common noun?
Yes, 'century' is also a common noun as it's a general term for any 100-year period.
Is century a concrete noun?
No, 'century' is an abstract noun because time is a concept that cannot be physically touched.
Is century a proper noun?
No, the word 'century' itself is not a proper noun. However, named periods like "The 21st Century" or "The Enlightenment" are proper nouns.
Is century a countable noun?
Yes, 'century' is a countable noun. You can have one century or many centuries (e.g., "The castle stood for five centuries.").
Practice Exercises on Collective Nouns
Worksheet on Collective Nouns: Identify the Noun Type
Identify the nouns as Collective, Common, or Proper.
- The building is over a century old.
- The 20th Century was a time of great change.
- A decade is a period of ten years.
- A team of historians studied the past century.
- Virat Kohli scored another century.
- A generation of people grew up with this technology.
- The government has plans for the next century.
- The audience has been waiting for an hour.
- A millennium is a thousand years.
- A flock of birds migrated for the season.
Worksheet on Collective Nouns: Fill in the Blanks
Fill in the blank with an appropriate collective noun.
- A period of 100 years is a _______.
- He scored a _______ in the cricket match.
- A _______ of musicians played at the event.
- The _______ of wolves howled at the moon.
- A _______ of directors discussed the company's performance.
- A _______ of ten years is called a decade.
- The _______ of players celebrated their victory.
- A _______ of bees was buzzing around the flowers.
- The _______ of stars was beautiful to watch.
- The _______ of ships sailed together.
Quizzes on Collective Nouns
Quiz 1: True or False on Collective Nouns
Read the statements and decide if they are True or False.
- 'Century' is a proper noun.
- 'Century' is a collective noun for 100 years.
- A collective noun can refer to a period of time.
- In "He scored a century," 'century' is a collective noun.
- 'Year' is a collective noun.
Quiz 2: Multiple Choice Question on Collective Nouns
Choose the correct option for each question.
- Which of the following is a collective noun?
(a) time (b) year (c) decade - In "The 19th century," 'century' is a/an:
(a) Abstract Noun (b) Concrete Noun (c) Adjective - Which of these is a proper noun?
(a) era (b) period (c) The Elizabethan Era - A 'millennium' is a period of:
(a) 10 years (b) 100 years (c) 1000 years - A 'decade' refers to a group of:
(a) 10 years (b) 12 months (c) 50 years
Discover More Collective Nouns
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