Collective Nouns: Defination, Examples, Uses & Worksheet

What Is a Collective Noun?

In English, several words depict a group of something. So, these names of the groups are known as collective nouns. For a better understanding, let us take some examples. So, words such as army, team, herd, family, jury, council, etc. depict a group, thus, becoming the perfect examples of the same. Apart from knowing the collective noun definition and examples, knowing its usage in a sentence is also important. So, read below to learn some of the examples in the form of sentences for better clarity on this topic.

Collective Noun Examples

Knowing the collective noun examples is important for a better understanding of this topic. Therefore, some of the examples are:

1. The team celebrated their victory.
2. A crowd gathered to participate in the protest.
3. The shepherd guided his flock across the fields.
4. The family went on a picnic together.
5. A choir sang beautiful notes.
6. The committee met to discuss the new proposals.
7. A litter of kittens played in the garden.
8. The old oak tree was home to a rookery of rooks.
9. The chef prepared a delicious batch of cookies.
10. The museum displayed a fascinating collection of artifacts.
11. A crew of sailors was present there.
12. I bought a beautiful bouquet of flowers.
13. She ate a bunch of grapes.
14. An army of soldiers was ready to fight for the nation.
15. There was a dangerous swarm of bees.
16. A pack of wolves chased the bull.
17. A team of players was sitting on the ground.
18. I saw a pride of lions.
19. A school of fish swam through the aquarium.
20. A colony of ants was taking the dead insect.
21. A pack of wolves howled at the moon.  
22. We saw a large swarm of locusts.  
23. The audience applauded the performance.  
24. A board of directors made the decision.  
25. The farmer kept a hive of bees.  
26. A troupe of dancers performed gracefully.  
27. The bouquet of flowers was beautiful.  
28. A string of pearls adorned her neck.  
29. The navy sailed across the ocean.  
30. A clump of trees provided shade.

These are the collective noun examples used in sentences that will help you understand the topic better.

List of Common Collective Nouns

Apart from the examples, knowing the collective nouns list is also important. It will help you add new words to your vocabulary and make your speech more interesting and accurate. So, check this list below.

• Set – A tidy group of matched objects such as dishes; also used to describe rules or a social group of people
• Mob – Normally used to describe an angry or unruly group of people; also used to describe a group of kangaroos
• Board – A group of people, usually professionals, who take on an advisory role
• Pack– A group of canine animals such as wolves or dogs; also used to describe playing cards and packages containing multiple objects
• Swarm– A group of insects
• Shoal– A group of fish
• Shower – Usually used to describe rain, although it can be used to describe gifts or compliments
• Group – A very general term used to describe people, places, things, and animals
• Crowd – Usually used to describe a group of people
• Crew – Usually used to denote a group of workers; also used to describe aircraft and ship personnel
• Staff – A group of people who work in the same place
• Choir – A large, organized group of singers
• Panel – A group of experts
• Gang – Usually used to describe a group of criminals; also used to describe a group of workers, particularly sailors or dock workers
• Troupe – A group of actors or acrobats; also used to describe a group of monkeys
• Bunch – Usually a group of smallish objects such as grapes, flowers, keys, or bananas
• Orchestra – A large, organized group of instrumentalists, led by a conductor
• Flock– A group of birds; also used to discuss small-hooved animals such as sheep or goats
• Pile – An untidy collection of items such as rubbish
• Heap – A mounded collection of items; used interchangeably with "pile"
• Stack – A group of items neatly laid one on top of another; i.e., a stack of books
• Series – Used to discuss movies, books, or events that follow one after another, i.e. Star Trek or Harry Potter
• Herd– A group of herbivore animals
• Fall – Often used to discuss weather, such as rain, snow, or hail

How to Use Collective Nouns?

The collective nouns are sometimes a bit confusing for the learners as they can be written in both singular and plural forms. So, considering these factors is important to understand the proper usage of these.  

1. Verb Agreement: Collective nouns are written mostly in singular form, but sometimes also in plural form depending on factors such as:

• Singular Verb: When the collective noun is acting as a unit, use a singular verb.

Example: "The team is working hard."

• Plural Verb: If the emphasis is on the individual members within the group, use a plural verb.

Example: "The team is in disagreement about the plan."

2. Context of the Sentence: Consider whether the group is acting collectively or as individuals to determine the correct verb.

3. Pronoun Agreement: Collective nouns usually take singular pronouns.

Example:

• "The family is planning its trip."
• "The jury has reached a verdict." (Jury as a unit)
• "The class was very attentive." (Class as a unit)
• "The team is practicing for the game." (Team members acting individually)
• "The family is going on vacation." (Family as a unit)

To understand it better, you can also solve the collective nouns worksheet. There, you will get several exercises that you have to complete. It will help you to a better understanding of this topic.

Collective Nouns Worksheet

Solving the exercise of collective nouns is important to test your knowledge and learning of the particular topic. Thus, solve the below given exercise and see how many right answers you can give.

1. A _________ of fish swam in the coral reef.
2. The farmer led his _________ of cattle to the pasture.
3. We saw a magnificent _________ of stars in the night sky.
4. The orchestra played a beautiful _________ of music.
5. A noisy _________ of geese flew overhead.
6. The library has a vast _________ of books.
7. The criminal was brought before a _________ of judges.
8. A busy _________ of ants marched along the sidewalk.
9. The hikers encountered a _________ of wolves in the forest.
10. The artist displayed a new _________ of paintings.

Answers:

1. school
2. herd
3. constellation
4. set
5. gaggle
6. collection
7. panel
8. colony
9. pack
10. series

Conclusion

This was all about the collective nouns. Here, you get to understand its meaning with the help of examples used in the sentences. Moreover, you can also add such words in your conversations and speech to make them a habit. Thus, prepare well and adhere to the English grammar rules for a strong command of the language. Moreover, you can also take online English classes, where academic experts will help you learn in a fun way, preparing you to meet the language requirements globally.

FAQs

1. Are Collective Nouns Singular or Plural?

Collective nouns can be treated as both singular or plural, depending on the context and how they are used in a sentence. However, in American English, they are generally written as singular, but in British English, they are treated in plural form.

2. How Do You Know What Pronoun to Use to Refer to a Collective Noun?

To know which pronoun suits best with the collective noun, consider whether the group is in singular or plural form. For example, ‘it’ is used with the singular, and ‘their, they & them’ are used with the plural form.

3. How Many Collective Nouns Exist in English?

There is no fixed number of collective nouns in English. But, it is believed that they are around 200 in number, with some lists counting to over 250 also.

4. How can I remember collective nouns?

Practice and context help! Try using flashcards, matching games, or reading books with rich descriptions. Some collective nouns are based on imagery or tradition, especially for animals.

5. Are collective nouns the same in American and British English?

They are mostly the same, but subject-verb agreement can differ:

American English: treats collective nouns as singular (e.g., The band is playing.)

British English: may treat them as plural (e.g., The band are playing.)