<p>Although the coach had predicted that the team would have a winning season, the fans were surprised by the success of the young, inexperienced players.</p>
<p>The answer is No Error, but why should "success of" be "successes of" since players is plural?</p>
<p>Thanks in advance!</p>
<p>“success” is being used as a mass noun, so it wouldn’t be pluralized.</p>
<p>I believe it is because success refers to the team collectively. And team is singular in this case.</p>
<p>^ No, it’s because “success” can be used in such a way that it refers to an abstract idea and not a specific instance of success. For example, multiple people can possess beauty; you wouldn’t say “their beauties were astounding.”</p>
<p>Isn’t success referring to the young players and not the whole team? Why are the young players treated as a mass noun?</p>
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<p>“success” is not referring to anything; it’s being possessed by the players, though.</p>
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<p>They aren’t. Plural nouns are never mass nouns.</p>
<p>silverturtle’s explanation does logically make sense</p>