Collective nouns are names for a collection or a number
of people or things. You might not know it, but you encounter collective nouns
in everyday speech. Collective nouns are words for single things that are made
up of more than one person, animal, place, thing, or idea. You can’t have a
team without individual members; even so, we discuss a team as a single entity.
Words like group, herd, and array are collective noun examples.
List of
common collective nouns
·
Herd– A group of herbivore animals
·
Pack– A group of canine animals such as wolves or
dogs; also used to describe playing cards and packages containing multiple
objects
·
Flock– A group of birds; also used to discuss
small hooved animals such as sheep or goats
·
Swarm– A group of insects
·
Shoal– A group of fish
·
Group – A very general term used to describe
people, places, things, and animals
·
Crowd – Usually used to describe a group of
people
·
Gang – Usually used to describe a group of
criminals; also used to describe a group of workers, particularly sailors or
dock workers
·
Mob – Normally used to describe an angry or
unruly group of people; also used to describe a group of kangaroos
·
Staff – A group of people who work in the
same place
·
Crew – Usually used to denote a group of
workers; also used to describe aircraft and ships personnel
·
Choir – A large, organized group of singers
·
Orchestra – A large, organized group of
instrumentalists, led by a conductor
·
Panel – A group of experts
·
Board – A group of people, usually
professionals, who take on an advisory role
·
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
·
Pile – An untidy collection of items such as
rubbish
·
Heap – A mounded collection of items; used
interchangeably with “pile”
·
Set – A tidy group of matched objects such
as dishes; also used to describe rules or a social group of people
·
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
·
Shower – Usually used to describe rain,
although it can be used to describe gifts or compliments
·
Fall – Often used to discuss
weather, such as rain, snow or hail
Examples: -
a bunch of
keys
a class of
pupils
a collection
of books
a deck of
cards
a fleet of
ships
a flock of
sheep
a gaggle of
geese
a gang of
robbers
a herd of
cattle
a litter of
cubs
a pod of
whales
a pack of
wolves
a pride of
lions
a set of
stamps
a swarm of
bees
a troupe of
actors
a brood of
chickens
a flight of
steps
a band of
musicians
a team of
players
Singular
and plural verbs with collective nouns
A plural collective noun
takes a plural verb:
A class of students pass the exam well.
A singular collective noun
usually takes a singular verb:
Our class passes the exam well.
But there are some cases
where a singular collective noun actually expresses a plural idea and needs a
plural verb. The guidelines below will help you decide whether a singular
collective noun takes a singular or plural verb.
When to use a singular
verb
When all the members of a collective noun are performing an action
as a unit (and that’s usually the case), use a singular verb.
Examples: -
·
The chamber orchestra often plays at the
Art Center.
·
Our class takes
a field trip to the Sigiriya.
·
The rock group has
been on leave for two days.
·
The cast is celebrating
the success of the play with a party after the performance.
·
Srilankan’s army was
finally defeated the terrorism.
·
A wolf pack hunts as a
group.
·
Srilankan’s cricket team
includes three spinners.
·
The urban council has
approved plans to create a new park.
·
The fleet was anchored
in the channel.
·
A flock
of sheep was grazing on the savanna.
When to use a plural verb
When the members of a
collective noun are performing an action as individuals, use a plural verb. In
this case, all or some members of the group are doing something independently
of the other members; the group is not acting together as a unit.
Examples: -
·
Srilankan’s cricket team were playing very bad in
the last match.
·
The orchestra are tuning
their instruments.
·
A bunch of keys attach in to the door.
·
The cast have been
practicing their lines.
·
A swarm of bees take their foods on the flowers.
·
A gang of thieves hide money.
·
The flock were running
off in every direction.
·
The staff disagree on
the proposal.
·
A class of students are passed their examination.
·
The panel of judges were decided the final result.
In many cases, it may sound more natural to make the subject
plural in form by adding a word like members
·
The members of
the orchestra are tuning
their instruments.
·
The cast members have been practicing
their lines.
·
The staff members disagree on the
proposal.
Exercise-xxvi
A.
Fill in the blanks with suitable collective
noun phrases in brackets.
Can’t repeat the noun phrase. First one is done for
you.
(The board of members, A group of students, team of
players, A swarm of bees, A desk of cards, The collection of books, A pride of
lions, A pack of wolves, A set of stamps, A band of musicians, The panel of
judges)
1. . ……. A desk of cards…… was played by them.
2. Our ………………………… is
celebrating the success.
3. ………………………….. was issued by
the government.
4. …………………………. was died due to
the hunter’s bomb.
5. …………………………. were copied the
exam paper.
6. …………………………. examines the
final result.
7. …………………………. makes the stage
enjoyable.
8. Our government introduced………………………….
for the Independence Day.
9. …………………………. was hunted the
herd of zebras.
10. …………………………. build their
nest very efficiently.
11. …………………………. selects the
committee leader.
B.
Fill in the sentences with suitable helping
verbs.
First one is done for you.
1. When He throws the stone
into the nest of bees. The swarm of bees …. has…. flown away the same
direction. (has/have)
2. The panel of umpires …………… (was/were)
discussing about the batsman out or not.
3. A class of student …………….
(has/have) discussed their own opinions.
4. Indian cricket team …………….
(is/are) increasing their points in the test match ranking.
5. A troupe of actors ……………….
(was/were) acting in a Hollywood film.
6. A team of players ……….
(is/are) taking practice for the match.
Answers-xxvi
A.
2.
team of players
3.
The collection of books
4.
A pack of wolves
5.
A group of students
6.
The panel of judges
7.
A band of musicians
8.
a set of stamps
9.
A pride of lions
10. A
swarm of bees
11.
The board of members
B.
2. were
3. have
4. is
5. were
6. are
