Question

Is a collective noun formed by adding –ing to the verb stem, used to express commands or directives, or a noun that refers to a group or a collection of elements?

Answer 1

A collective noun is a noun used to group people or things in a descriptive way.

Explanation:

There are some nouns that, by definition, are words for a group; for example, a crowd, a herd, or a bale; for example:
- a crowd of people or a crowd of onlookers;
- a herd of cattle or a herd of antelope;
- a bale of hay or a bale of cotton.

There are some nouns that are not inherently words for a group but can function as collective nouns; for example:

• I set the table. (not a collective noun)

• a table of contents (a collective noun)

• I left my book in school, (not a collective noun)

• a school of fish (a collective noun)

• The book is due at the library. (not a collective noun)

• a book of matches (a collective noun)
• a library of books (a collective noun)

The -ing form of a verb is called the present participle of a verb .
The present participle functions as a present tense verb.
The present participle functions as a gerund (a verbal noun).
The present participle functions as an adjective.

Examples:
They were dancing in the moonlight, (verb)
Dancing is my favorite class. (noun)
Those dancing lessons have improved your posture. (adjective)