Collective noun is used to refer to groups of people, animals, or things. It is an essential part of our language, adding precision and clarity when referring to groups. For instance, instead of saying ‘a group of students’, we can simply say ‘a class’. This article will define what a collective noun is and how they are used in sentences. We will learn various collective nouns, providing examples and contexts to help you understand their application better. Understanding collective nouns will improve your vocabulary and enhance your linguistic skills.
Collective nouns may be used with either singular or plural verbs. If the group members are all acting together as one, use a singular verb. If the members of the group are acting as individuals, use a plural verb. Many collective nouns can be used with a singular or plural verb.
For example:
My family was happy to see me.
(referring to the family as a single group or unit)
My family were happy to see me.
(emphasizing the individual members of the family)
Singular
That family has moved to Texas.
The team is coached by Mr. Clark.
Plural
The family were giving their opinions.
The team are sharing new ideas.
But the following collective nouns always take a plural verb:
Cattle, people, youth, etc.
Examples-
People like to be praised.
The cattle are in the field.
The youth are making their voices heard.
A collective noun is a collection of nouns belonging to the same category. It represents a group of people, things, or animals that come from the same category. Collective nouns not only simplify sentences but also enrich writing. For instance, using ‘army’ for a group of soldiers or ‘bouquet’ for a group of flowers helps convey exact information. One thing to remember when using a collective noun is to use the right form of the verb in sentences.
How to use collective nouns in English?
Here are two rules that you must follow when using collective nouns:
1. When you consider a collective noun as one unit, you use a singular verb with a collective noun.
2. When you want to focus on the individual members of the group, use a plural verb.
Examples-
The committee has given a decision on the case.
(Committee here becomes a singular noun.)
The committee were arguing for two hours before making the decision.
(Committee here becomes a plural noun.)
Police is necessary for our security.
(Police as a whole)
Police were running behind the protesters.
(Members of the police were running behind the protesters.)
Audience is integral to any performance.
(as a whole)
Audience were trying to get autographs.
(Members of the audience were trying to get autographs.)
The team plays its final match today.
(Team as a whole)
Some other examples-
The board of directors are demanding the cars for themselves.
The board of directors has made rules for all employees.
The class is performing well in singing.
The class are being interviewed one by one.
The team is fighting for its right.
The team have to answer all questions to the manager one by one.
The jury is united to give its decision.
The jury are divided to give their decisions.
My family was there last night.
My family have done a lot in the field of science.
The staff is in the office.
My staff were called to give their statements.
The jury has declared the results.
The jury are giving their opinions.
List of collective nouns to improve your vocabulary
Collective nouns for people
A group of actors- cast
A group of sailors- crew
A group of people- crowd
A group of judges- jury
A group of walkers- amble
A group of judges- bench
A group of crooks- bunch
A group of prisoners- gang
A group of singers- choir
A group of students- class
A group of teachers- faculty
A group of employees- staff
A group of dancers- troupe
A group of artists- troupe
A group of performers- troupe
A group of protestors- mob
A group of friends- party
A group of natives- tribe
A group of players- team
A group of athletes- team
A group of scouts- troop
A group of librarians- stack
A group of friends- circle
A group of listeners- audience
A group of musicians- band
A group of directors- board
A group of travellers- caravan
A group of merchants- syndicate
A group of kings- line/ dynasty
A group of thieves/ robbers- gang
A group of worshippers- congregation
A group of customers of a business- clientele
Collective nouns for Animals
A group of monkeys- troop
A group of donkeys- herd
A group of turtles- bale
A group of foxes- skulk
A group of lions- pride
A group of frogs- army
A group of toads- knot
A group of whales- pod
A group of leopards- leap
A group of kangaroos- mob
A group of squirrels- scurry
A group of hyenas- cackle
A group of cats- clowder
A group of puppies- litter
A group of dogs- pack
A group of horses- string
A group of bees- swarm
A group of bears- sleuth/ sloth
A group of buffaloes- herd
A group of wolves- pack
A group of sheep- flock
A group of cattle- herd
A group of deer- herd
A group of crocodiles- bask
A group of fish- shoal/ school
A group of zebras- dazzle/ zeal
A group of jaguars- shadow
A group of mice- nest/ mischief
A group of rabbits- colony/ fluffle
A group of giraffes- tower/ herd
A group of oxen- herd/ drove
A group of rhinoceroses- crash
A group of cheetahs- coalition
A group of kittens- litter/ Kindle
A group of tigers- streak/ ambush
A group of gorillas- troop/ band
A group of hippopotami- bloat
A group of snakes- den/ pit
A group of elephants- parade/ herd
A group of spiders- cluster/ clutter
A group of goats- trip/ tribe/herd/flock
A group of camels- caravan/ herd/flock
Collective nouns for objects/ things
A group of keys- bunch
A group of clothes- bundle
A group of sticks- bundle
A group of stairs- flight
A group of ships- fleet
A group of bullets- hail
A group of events- series
A group of stones- heap
A group of books- library
A group of cards- deck
A group of arrows- quiver
A group of papers- stack
A group of tools- kit
A group of wood- stack
A group of goods- stock
A group of beads- string
A group of furniture- suite
A group of rooms- suite
A group of grass- tuft
A group of flats- block
A group of drawers- chest
A group of dust- cloud
A group of bushes- Clump
A group of trees- forest/ clump
A group of fruit trees- orchard
A group of diamonds- cluster
A group of photographs- Album
A group of stamps- collection
A group of warships- Armada
A group of mountains- range
A group of stars- cluster/ galaxy
A group of cars/ vehicles- fleet
A group of poems- anthology
A group of islands- Archipelago
A group of flowers- bouquet/ bunch
A group of notes/ currency- wad
A group of trash/ rubbish- heap/ pile
A group of pearls- cluster/ string/ necklace
Collective nouns for birds
A group of quails- bevy
A group of seabirds- wreck
A group of pelicans- pod
A group of larks- exaltation
A group of nightingale- watch
A group of owls- parliament
A group of cranes- sedge/ siege
A group of crows- murder
A group of doves- flock/ flight
A group of woodcocks- fall
A group of gulls- colony
A group of hawks- kettle
A group of storks- muster
A group of Ravens- unkindness
A group of cormorants- gulp
A group of eagles- convocation
A group of finches- charm
A group of flamingos- flamboyance
A group of geese in flight- skein
A group of geese on the ground- gaggle
A group of Guinea fowl- confusion
A group of woodpeckers- descent
A group of herons- sedge/ siege/ hedge
A group of penguins in the sea- raft
A group of penguins on land- waddle
A group of penguins- colony/ rookery
A group of pheasants- bouquet/ nide
A group of rooks- building/ parliament
A group of sparrows- host/ quarrel
A group of starlings- murmuration
A group of ducks in flight- flock
A group of ducks on water- raft/ paddling
A group of vultures in flight- kettle
A group of vultures (feeding on a carcass)- wake
A group of vultures when resting in trees- committee
40 Examples of Collective Nouns
1. A crew repairs the boat.
2. He had a string of beads.
3. The jury debated the issue.
4. The audience clapped loudly.
5. They sing in a church choir.
6. The litter of kittens slept quietly.
7. The parliament of owls sat quietly.
8. We walked up a flight of stairs.
9. I kept a bunch of keys on the table.
10. Let me check the stock of goods.
11. It takes time to build a clientele.
12. He fell down on a heap of stones.
13. The hotel had a suite of rooms.
14. I sat down beside a tuft of grass.
15. The village tribe was friendly.
16. I saw a slow amble of walkers.
17. The band was playing old songs.
18. A pack of wolves howled at night.
19. Please clean the pile of garbage.
20. A swarm of bees flew into the garden.
21. A clump of bushes blocked the path.
22. He found a stack of old magazines.
23. A troop of scouts marched proudly.
24. The crowd gathered near the stage.
25. A shoal of fish swam near the shore.
26. I could only see a cloud of dust there.
27. The herd of elephants crossed the river.
28. The fleet of ships sailed majestically.
29. The orchard of trees was in full bloom.
30. The bundle of newspapers was heavy.
31. I saw a fleet of cars outside the hotel.
32. Those people were a bunch of crooks.
33. A wreck of seabirds looked adorable.
34. The line of kings failed in the battle.
35. The anthology will be published soon.
36. I bought a big chest of drawers for my things.
37. The congregation processed to the church.
38. That was the largest archipelago in the world.
39. The gaggle of geese waddled across the park.
40. A murder of crows cawed loudly in the field.
How to tell when a collective noun is working as a group of individuals?
You can replace the collective noun with the members of the collective noun.
The committee was one on this point.
The committee were divided on this point.
Or
Members of the committee were divided on this point.
The parliament was united over the Kashmir issue.
The parliament were divided over the Kashmir issue.
Members of the parliament were divided over the Kashmir issue.
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