Collective Noun


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

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