homework in collective noun

What is the Collective Noun for Homework?

The collective noun for homework is a pile. Stack, bundle, and batch are the other collective names for homework.

What is a group of Homework called?

A group of homework is called a pile. Besides, based on different situations terms like stack, bundle, and batch are used to denote a group of homework.

A Pile of Homework

A pile of homework is used to describe a large group of homework, usually when it is all due at the same time.

Examples sentences:

• The pile of homework was daunting.
• The pile of homework was growing by the minute.
• The pile of homework was overwhelming.

A Stack of Homework

A stack of homework is used to describe a group of homework that is neatly organized.

• The stack of homework was neatly arranged.
• The stack of homework was organized by subject.
• The stack of homework was ready to be graded.

A Bundle of Homework

A bundle of homework is used to describe a group of homework that is bound together.

• The bundle of homework was tightly bound.
• The bundle of homework was ready to be turned in.
• The bundle of homework was securely fastened.

A Batch of Homework

A batch of homework is used to describe a group of homework that is assigned at the same time.

• The batch of homework was due the following day.
• The batch of homework was assigned to the entire class.
• The batch of homework was difficult to complete.

Interesting Facts About Homework:

• Homework has been around since the 16th century.
• Homework is used to reinforce learning.
• Homework can help students develop good study habits.
• Homework can help students learn to manage their time.
• Homework can help students develop critical thinking skills.
• Homework can help students learn to work independently.

Conclusion:

Homework may not be the most exciting thing in the world, but it is an important part of learning. Its collective nouns of pile, stack, bundle, and batch are proof of its importance in the classroom.

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Collective Nouns: Definition, Examples, & Exercises

• The Albert Team
• Last Updated On: March 1, 2022

Collective nouns can be a little tricky to identify and use. Are they singular, or are they plural? What type of verb do I use with a collective noun? With a little practice, collective nouns can quickly be mastered.

In this post we’ll review what collective nouns are, the singular and plural forms of collective nouns, and how to ensure proper subject-verb agreement when using collective nouns.

After reviewing the information below, test yourself with a post-assessment quiz and practice with our high quality, standards-aligned questions here .

What We Review

The Basics of Collective Nouns

What is a Collective Noun? 

A collective noun is a word or phrase that represents a group of people or things but is treated as a singular entity ( Hint : a “collection” of people or things). Even though you can count the individual members of the group, you usually think of the individuals as a group, a whole, or as one unit. 

Because collective nouns describe a plurality of something, they are often confused with plural nouns. Additionally, collective nouns can be made into plural nouns, like most common nouns.

Consider this: A group is learning about different types of nouns .

There are three nouns in the sentence above. One is a collective noun, and the others are plural nouns.

Collective Noun : group

Plural Nouns : types, nouns

What is the relationship between collective and plural nouns?

Plural means more than one, so plural nouns are referring to more than one of that particular noun. The most common way to make a noun plural is by adding an ‘s’ to the end of the word, though there are various reals related to making singular nouns plural.

Singular: Tree  / Plural: Trees

Singular: Student /   Plural: Students

Collective nouns are singular words used in place of plural nouns. Collective nouns can be singular or plural, but plural nouns are always plural.

Let’s use the example from above: A group is learning about different types of nouns.

What is a group? It is a collection of people, places, or things. In this case, we can infer that the group is a number of students.

The word “students” is a plural noun for student.

The sentence could be written without using a collective noun: Students are learning about different types of nouns.

So aren’t collective nouns plural if they are made up of more than one of the same thing? It’s easy to make the mistake of thinking collective nouns are plural; however, these words are designed to represent a single unit of more than one of the same thing.

Collective nouns can also be plural: Groups are learning about different types of nouns.

What does “groups” mean in this sentence? It means more than one group, making it a plural collective noun.

Collective Proper Nouns

Collective nouns may also be proper nouns when that proper noun represents a group.

• Since Maroon 5 is a music group with multiple members, it is a collective proper noun, and It is treated as a singular noun in a sentence.
• Since Target is a large retail chain, it would be considered a collective proper noun in this sentence.
• I shop at the Target on the corner.
• Hint: If you substitute a generic collective noun like “the band” or “the company” with the proper noun, you can see that the proper noun is a collective noun, so it should be treated as a collective noun in a sentence with singular verbs.

Some collective proper nouns, sports teams in particular, often use the plural form of the team name and require the use of a plural verb and plural pronouns as needed:

• The Cubs have won the World Series, breaking their 107 year losing streak.

However, if the name of a city is used in place of the team name, it is treated as a singular noun:

• Chicago won the World Series, breaking its 107 year losing streak.

How do you use collective nouns?

Collective nouns can be used in any type of sentence, but the most common mistakes made when using collective nouns is subject-verb disagreement and pronoun disagreement .

Subject-Verb Agreement:

If a singular collective noun is used in a sentence, it needs to be treated like a singular noun.

Incorrect Example: The team are playing in the championship game.

Correct Example: The team is playing in the championship game.

We use the singular verb “is” with a collective noun, because a collective noun represents a singular unit. If the collective noun is made plural, than the verb will follow plural noun rules:

The team s are playing in the championship game.

Let’s look again at our sample sentences and add one more using a singular noun for students:

• A group is learning about different types of nouns.
• Students are learning about different types of nouns.
• Groups are learning about different types of nouns.
• A Student is learning about different types of nouns.

What differences do you see in the sentences?

• A student is learning about different types of nouns.

You’ll notice that verb usage for singular nouns are the same. Sentences 1 and 4 use the singular verb “is”.

The sentences with singular nouns also use the article “A” before the noun.

The verb usage for plural nouns are the same as well. Sentences 2 and 3 use the plural verb “are”, and there is no need for an article before the noun.

Subject-Pronoun Agreement

Pronoun agreement follows the same rules as verb agreement for collective nouns. Singular pronouns are used for singular collective nouns, and plural pronouns are used for plural collective nouns.

Incorrect Example: The bouquet of flowers is wilting, even though they were labeled as fresh.

Correct Example: The bouquet of flowers is wilting, even though it was labeled as fresh.

We use the singular pronoun “it” with a collective noun, because a collective noun represents a singular unit. If the collective noun is made plural, than the pronoun will follow plural noun rules:

The bouquet s of flowers are wilting, even though they were labeled as fresh.

Return to Table of Contents

3 Tips For Recognizing and Using Collective Nouns

Tip #1: if it takes more than one person, animal, or thing to use the word, it’s probably a collective noun.

• If I was looking at a flock , I would be looking at a group of birds flying together. So flock is a collective noun.

Tip #2: Subject-Verb Agreement: Singular collective nouns use singular verbs, plural collective nouns use plural verbs

• The class is expected to follow classroom expectations.
• The classes are expected to follow classroom expectations.

Tip #3: Pronoun Agreement: Singular collective nouns use singular pronouns, plural collective nouns use plural pronouns

• The crew on the aircraft carrier is prepared to deploy if it is called on.
• The crews on the aircraft carriers are prepared to deploy if they are called on.

Applying the Basics: Collective Noun Practice

Now that you understand what collective nouns are, and how to use them properly in a sentence, let’s practice identifying them and checking for proper verb and pronoun usage. Remember, collective nouns are considered singular nouns, and they should be used with singular verbs and pronouns.

The Ultimate List of Collective Nouns

Refer to the chart below for an extensive list of common collective nouns.

*Please note that this list does not include all collective nouns, and many of the words can be used for different things as well as cross categories.

Collective Nouns: Identifying Collective Nouns

Complete the quick exercise below to assess your mastery of collective nouns.

Select the collective noun(s) in the sentences below. Remember, a collective noun is a word or phrase that represents a group of people or things but is treated as a singular entity. Collective nouns can be made plural like most common nouns.

1. I went with a group of students to see the statues commemorating the army of soldiers that fought in the Korean War.

• In this sentence, group and army are collective nouns. Each word represents multiple people in a single unit.

2. The audience cheered as the team took the field for the first game in the series against its biggest rival.

• In this sentence, audience , team , and series are collective nouns. Each word represents multiple people or things in a single unit.

3. The committees are working on different projects to help increase community involvement in school events.

• In this sentence, committees and community are collective nouns. The word committees is also a plural collective noun. Each word represents multiple people in a single unit or units.

4. His family bought a bunch of movies from Best Buy to donate to the company’s gift drive.

• In this sentence, family , bunch , Best Buy , and company’s are collective nouns. Best Buy is a proper collective noun, and company’s has an apostrophe and an ‘s’, because it is also acting as a possessive noun. Each word or phrase represents multiple people or things in a single unit.

5. The Students wishing to start a school choir met with the school board and faculty to present a list of arguments supporting the idea.

• In this sentence, choir , board , faculty , and list are collective nouns. Each word represents multiple people or things in a single unit.

Pro tip: When evaluating whether a noun is a collective noun , ask yourself, “Does this word represent multiple people or things as one unit?”

Collective Nouns: Identifying Subject-Verb Agreement and Disagreement

Complete the quick exercise below to assess your mastery of subject-verb agreement when using collective nouns.

Review each sentence and select the verb that ensures accurate subject-verb agreement . Remember, a collective noun is a singular noun and uses singular verbs. Collective nouns can be made plural and use plural verbs.

1. The mob of Black Friday shoppers (is, are) anxiously waiting for the store to open.

• The correct verb for this sentence is is , because the subject, mob, is a singular collective noun.

2. His Science class (take, takes) the AP® exam on Friday.

• The correct verb for this sentence is takes , because the subject, class, is a singular collective noun.

3. On Saturday, the local girl scout troops (sell, sells) cookies outside of the grocery stores.

• The correct verb for this sentence is sell , because the subject, troops, is a plural collective noun.

4. The congregation (sings, sing) the hymn along with the pastor.

• The correct verb for this sentence is sings , because the subject, congregation, is a singular collective noun.

5. The apple orchard I go to every fall (have, has) 30 varieties of apples and the best brunch around.

• The correct verb for this sentence is has , because the subject, orchard, is a singular collective noun.

Pro tip: When evaluating whether or not a sentence has proper subject-verb agreement when the subject is a collective noun, ask yourself, “Is this collective noun singular or plural?” Singular collective nouns use singular verbs, and plural collective nouns use plural verbs. If you can replace the collective noun with the word “it”, it is singular.

Collective Nouns: Identifying Subject-Pronoun Agreement and Disagreement

Complete the quick exercise below to assess your mastery of subject-pronoun agreement when using collective nouns.

Review each sentence and select the pronoun that ensures accurate subject-pronoun agreement . Remember, a collective noun is a singular noun and uses singular pronouns. Collective nouns can be made plural and use plural pronouns.

1. The staff was commended for (its, their) hard work this year.

• The correct pronoun for this sentence is its , because the subject, staff, is a singular collective noun.

2. Most people order a batch of chocolate chip cookies, because (it’s, they’re) the most popular item.

• The correct pronoun for this sentence is it’s , the contraction ‘it is’, because the subject, batch, is a singular collective noun.

3. In the fall, I like to watch the flocks of birds flying south to (its, their) winter home.

• The correct pronoun for this sentence is their , because the subject, flocks, is a plural collective noun.

4. The lovely bouquet of roses smells like (it, they) came fresh from the garden.

• The correct pronoun for this sentence is it , because the subject, bouquet, is a singular collective noun.

5. The jury struggles to agree on a verdict, so (it, they) asks for more time to deliberate.

• The correct pronoun for this sentence is it , because the subject, jury, is a singular collective noun.

Pro tip: When evaluating whether or not a sentence has proper subject-pronoun agreement when the subject is a collective noun, ask yourself, “Is this collective noun singular or plural?” Singular collective nouns use singular pronouns, and plural collective nouns use plural pronouns. If you can replace the collective noun with the word “it”, it is singular.

For additional practice, check out Collective Noun content on Albert.

Try for Yourself: Collective Noun Quiz

Feeling confident in your understanding of collective nouns?

Take this short quiz to see what you’ve learned:

1. Is a collective noun, like the word “group”, treated as a singular or plural noun?

• Answer: Singular
• Correct Explanation: That’s right! A collective noun, like the word “group”, is treated as a singular noun , because the word “group” represents multiple people or things as a single unit .
• Incorrect Explanation: Sorry, that’s not right. Remember, unless the collective noun is made plural , in this case by adding an ‘s’ to the word group , it is treated as a singular noun.

2. Do collective nouns like the words “team” and “herd” use singular or plural verbs and pronouns?

• Correct Explanation: That’s right! Collective nouns, like the words “team” and “herd”, are treated as singular nouns , because they represent multiple people or things as a single unit . Therefore, they use singular verbs and pronouns .
• Incorrect Explanation: Sorry, that’s not right. Remember, unless collective nouns are made plural , in this case by adding an ‘s’ to the words team and group , they are treated as singular nouns. Therefore, they use singular verbs and pronouns .

3. In this sentence, is the underlined word collective , plural , or plural collective ?

By the end of the game, our team was in first place.

• Answer: Collective
• Correct Explanation: That’s right! The underlined word, team, is a collective noun . It is a singular word that represents multiple people (players).
• Incorrect Explanation: Sorry, that’s not right. Remember, if a word represents multiple people as a single unit, it is a collective noun . Additionally, unless a collective noun is made plural , in this case by adding an ‘s’ to the word team , it is treated as a singular noun.

4. In this sentence, is the underlined word collective , plural , or plural collective ?

There are colonies of ants all over the field.

• Answer: Plural Collective
• Correct Explanation: That’s right! The underlined word, colonies, is the plural form of the collective noun ‘colony’, which represents multiple ant living as one group. The word colonies means more than one colony.
• Incorrect Explanation: Sorry, that’s not right. Remember, if a word represents multiple things as a single unit, it is a collective noun . Additionally, a collective noun can be made plural – in this case by dropping the ‘y’ and adding ‘ies’ to the word colony .

5. Does the verb in the following sentence agree or disagree with the subject?

When the litter of puppies is ready, I get to take one home.

• Answer: Agree
• Correct Explanation: That’s right! The subject, litter, is a singular collective noun , so it uses the  singular verb ‘is’ for accurate subject-verb agreement .
• Incorrect Explanation: Sorry, that’s not right. Remember, a singular collective noun uses a singular verb for accurate subject-verb agreement. Litter is a singular collective noun, so it uses the singular verb ‘is’.

6. Does the pronoun in the following sentence agree or disagree with the subject?

I listen to my favorite band while working, because they help me focus.

• Answer: Disagree
• Correct Explanation: That’s right! The subject, band, is a singular collective noun , so it would use the  singular pronoun ‘it’ for accurate subject-pronoun agreement .
• Incorrect Explanation: Sorry, that’s not right. Remember, a singular collective noun uses a singular pronoun for accurate subject-pronoun agreement. Band is a singular collective noun, so it uses the singular pronoun ‘it’.

For additional practice with collective nouns, check out our practice on Albert.io: Collective Nouns

Teacher’s Corner for Collective Nouns

While it’s true that collective nouns are a foundational grammar skill, the Common Core English Language Progressive Skills Chart shows that even elementary-level skills “require continued attention in higher grades as they are applied to increasingly sophisticated writing and speaking.” 

For specific standards addressing collective nouns, or standards on subject-verb and subject-pronoun agreement, check out the Common Core State Standards site! 

Albert’s collective nouns practice can be used for much more than homework! Our assessments can be used as pre-and post-tests to measure student progress. Our pre-made quizzes can be used as bell-ringers, exit tickets, and more! 

In addition to our pre-made assessments, you can also use our assignments feature to create your own quizzes and assessments.

Summary on Collective Nouns

A Collective Noun is a word or phrase that represents a group of people or things but is treated as a singular entity. They can be made plural following the normal rules for making nouns plural.

Subject-Verb and Subject-Pronoun Agreement is where most mistakes are made when using collective nouns. Collective nouns are treated as singular nouns unless they are made plural. Singular collective nouns use singular verbs and pronouns, and plural collective nouns use plural verbs and pronouns.

Collective nouns are words we see and use every day. When using collective nouns in your writing, make sure you carefully check your work to ensure you are using the appropriate verbs and pronouns!

Practice makes perfect! Use our collective nouns practice on Albert’s grammar course !

You can also access over 3,400 high-quality questions that address nearly every grammatical concept.

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Collective Nouns – Free Exercise

Complete the sentence with the correct collective noun .

• There are 25 pupils in my   audience choir class family government group orchestra team .
• The violinist, the pianist and the percussionist are all part of the   audience choir class family government group orchestra team .
• My   audience choir class family government group orchestra team has a mother, a father, a brother and a sister. As well as an uncle, an aunt and some cousins.
• A field hockey   audience choir class family government group orchestra team has eleven players.
• A soprano, an alto, a tenor and a bass all sing in a   audience choir class family government group orchestra public team .
• The US   audience choir class family government group orchestra team is made up of The Senate and The House of Representatives.
• All the members of the   audience choir class family government group orchestra team clapped enthusiastically.
• The   audience choir class family government group orchestra team consisted of three boys and two girls.

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Collective Nouns

Collective Nouns introduces students to nouns that represent groups of people or things. Students will learn how to identify these nouns and distinguish between them and singular nouns.

The “Options for Lesson” section provides several suggestions for additional activities you could do for the lesson. One option is to have students create a poster for all the phrases in the activity. Another is to conduct a “collective noun bee” in which students will say a sentence using the announced collective noun. You could also collect images online that show groups of people or things and have students name the collective noun that is associated with that picture.

Description

Additional information, what our collective nouns lesson plan includes.

Lesson Objective and Overview: Collective Nouns teaches students how to identify and correctly use collective nouns. Students will learn how to define and then distinguish these nouns from singular nouns. The lesson material and worksheets will provide them with a lot of practice to solidify their grasp of the concepts. This lesson is for students in 2nd grade.

Classroom Procedure

Every lesson plan provides you with a classroom procedure page that outlines a step-by-step guide to follow. You do not have to follow the guide exactly. The guide helps you organize the lesson and details when to hand out worksheets. It also lists information in the green box that you might find useful. You will find the lesson objectives, state standards, and number of class sessions the lesson should take to complete in this area. In addition, it describes the supplies you will need as well as what and how you need to prepare beforehand. You will need the following supplies for this lesson: colored pencils, markers, internet access, drawing paper, scratch paper, and the handouts. To prepare for this lesson ahead of time, you can pair students for the activity, gather the supplies, and copy the handouts.

Options for Lesson

Included with this lesson is an “Options for Lesson” section that lists a number of suggestions for activities to add to the lesson or substitutions for the ones already in the lesson. One option is to have students create a poster for all the phrases in the activity. Another is to conduct a “Collective Noun Bee” in which students will say a sentence using the announced collective noun. You could also collect images online that show groups of people or things and have students name the collective noun that is associated with that picture. Finally, you can have students identify the collective nouns in text from content from other subject areas for additional practice.

Teacher Notes

The teacher notes page includes a paragraph with additional guidelines and things to think about as you begin to plan your lesson. It notes that while students are likely aware of what nouns are in general, they may not know what collective nouns are specifically. This page also includes lines that you can use to add your own notes as you’re preparing for this lesson.

COLLECTIVE NOUNS LESSON PLAN CONTENT PAGES

The Collective Nouns lesson contains three pages of content. The first page introduces the concept of nouns that represent groups of things. We generally use nouns to identify people, places, or things. Common nouns are words like boy , cat , and chair . Proper nouns are words like John , California , and White House . We capitalize proper nouns. We use nouns in almost every single sentence!

Collective nouns are a type of noun that names groups made up of members. They usually refer to people. An example of a collective noun is the word class , because a class is made up of a group of people. Collective nouns always refer to more than one person or thing. The word family is also an example of a collective noun.

Next, the lesson includes a table of 24 different collective nouns, such as army , tribe , firm , class , and school . It asks students to think about why each of these words are collective nouns. All of the examples in the table include more than one member! An army has multiple soldiers, for example.

Students will then learn that we use specific collective nouns to represent many types of animals. For instance, we call multiple birds a flock and a group of lions a pride of lions. The lesson includes 12 examples of the different words we use for groups of animals.

Using Collective Nouns

Next, students will learn how to use collective nouns. When using them, you must make sure to use the correct verbs and pronouns. The verbs that you use with a noun change depending on whether the noun is singular or plural. The lesson provides two example sentences to illustrate this, one of which has the phrase dog is and the other has the phrase dogs are . This shows that the verb (in this case, is or are ) changes depending on whether the noun is dog (singular) or dogs (plural).

A collective noun can be either singular or plural, depending on how we use them in a sentence. A group of people or things make up collective nouns. It’s possible that that group will all act the same way. In this case, the collective noun would be singular. The lesson provides examples using the collective noun class . It is singular in these examples because the whole class is doing or thinking the same thing. The examples use the singular verbs follows and was because of the singular noun.

The lesson then provides examples of the same noun, class, being used as a plural collective noun. The example uses the plural verb start.  The lesson notes that plural collective nouns can sometimes be confusing, and suggests adding another word to help show that the collective noun is plural. For example, instead of using the plural class on its own, you could use the phrase class members .

We use collective nouns to name groups made up of members (typically people). We sometimes use them for objects or things as well, such as a bunch of bananas . Using the correct verbs with collective nouns is very important, as they can be either singular or plural. Practice using and identifying collective nouns will help make students better readers and writers!

COLLECTIVE NOUNS LESSON PLAN WORKSHEETS

The Collective Nouns lesson plan includes three worksheets: an activity worksheet, a practice worksheet, and a homework assignment. You can refer to the guide on the classroom procedure page to determine when to hand out each worksheet.

NOUN PHRASE POSTER ACTIVITY

Students will work with a partner for the activity worksheet. They will create a poster that shows how to use a collective noun. They can draw pictures or gather images online or from other sources. The poster must include pictures for at least 10 phrases from the table of choices on the worksheet. They can use the blank box at the bottom of the page for a rough draft, and can then create their final poster. They must also title the poster.

Students can work either alone or in larger groups for this activity if you’d prefer.

CIRCLE THE NOUN PRACTICE WORKSHEET

The practice worksheet is split into two sections. The first section requires students to read 15 sentences and circle the collective noun in each. The second section requires students to use each collective noun listed in a sentence.

COLLECTIVE NOUNS HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT

The homework assignment is divided into three parts. For the first part, students must choose the correct verb in each sentence for the singular collective noun. The second part requires them to use the words in the word bank to complete 10 sentences. The final section requires that they use each given phrase in a sentence.

Worksheet Answer Keys

This lesson plan includes answer keys for the practice worksheet and the homework assignment. No answer key is provided for the activity worksheet, as each pair’s poster will differ.  If you choose to administer the lesson pages to your students via PDF, you will need to save a new file that omits these pages. Otherwise, you can simply print out the applicable pages and keep these as reference for yourself when grading assignments.

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Collective Nouns Exercises and Worksheets with answers

Collective Nouns Exercises and Worksheets with answers free, Collective noun exercise for practice. These exercises are very useful for kids, students and English learners.

Collective Nouns Exercises

Exercise -1 Find out the collective nouns in each sentence:

• A team of doctors has arrived in the hospital.
• A flock of birds flew over the village.
• A hive of bees was flying there.
• She bought a loaf of bread at the market.
• The group of dancers will dance in the party.
• The herd moved towards his fields.
• Did you see the army of soldiers there?
• I have met a crew of sailors today.
• A crowd of people gathered on the road.
• A band of musicians will perform in the party.

Answers : 1. team, 2. flock, 3. hive, 4. loaf, 5. group, 6. herd, 7. army, 8. crew, 9. crowd, 10. band

• Noun Rules and Examples
• Pronoun Rules and Examples
• Examples of nouns in sentences

Exercise – 2 Fill in the blanks with correct collective noun:

• A ________ of students
• An ________ of singers
• A ________ of crooks
• A ________ of spectators
• A ________ of directors
• A ________ of players
• A ________ of thieves
• A ________ of birds
• A ________of stars
• A ________ of keys

Answers : 1. class, 2. choir, 3. bunch, 4. crowd, 5. board, 6. team, 7. gang, 8. flock, 9. galaxy, 10. bunch

• Present Indefinite Tense
• Simple Past Tense
• Simple Future Tense
• Active and Passive Voice

Exercise – 3 Fill in the blanks with suitable collective nouns:

• My __________ won the match by three goals.
• I saw a __________ of ships in the harbor.
• The ship has a __________ of a hundred sailors.
• A __________ of bees flew out of the hive.
• The __________ found him guilty.
• A __________ of five was appointed.
• The police dispersed the __________.
• A __________ of cattle was grazing in the field.
• A __________ of sheep was seen in the field.
• The __________ of soldiers has marched away.
• A __________ of birds flew over the hills.
• They saw a __________ of lions at the zoo.
• He ate a __________ of grapes today.
• Police have arrested a __________ of thieves.
• The __________ of pupils are listening attentively to their teacher.

Answers : 1. Mob, 2. Regiment, 3. Crew, 4. Flock, 5. Herd, 6. Swarm, 7. Committee 8. Jury, 9. Fleet, 10. Team, 11. Flight, 12. Pride, 13. Bunch, 14. Gang 15. Class

• Examples of Present Indefinite Tense
• Examples of Present Continuous Tense

Exercise – 4 Complete the sentences with appropriate collective nouns:

• A _____ of thieves robbed the bank in the town yesterday.
• A _____ of singers sang on beautiful songs on my birthday party.
• There is a _______ of puppies behind the garden.
• She gave me a _______ of roses today.
• Jack tied the _______ of sticks with a piece of rope.
• The children saw a _______of dolphins in the pond.
• The _______ of members will accept this proposal.
• A ______ of geese was seen by the children.
• A ______ of fish was swimming in the pond.
• He bought a ______of bread from the shop.

Answers : 1. gang, 2. choir, 3. litter, 4. bouquet, 5. bundle, 6. school, 7. committee, 8. gaggle, 9. shoal, 10. loaf

• Use of Is Am and Are
• Use of Has and Have
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Collective Nouns: Definition, Useful List and Examples

Have you ever heard of collective nouns? They are words that represent a group of people, animals, or things as a single entity. For example, a team is a collective noun that represents a group of individual members. Other examples include herd, flock, swarm, and pack.

In this article, we will explore the concept of collective nouns in detail. We will provide you with a comprehensive list of common collective nouns and explain how to use them correctly in a sentence. Whether you are a native speaker or learning English as a second language, this article will help you improve your grammar and communication skills.

Collective Noun Definition

Collective nouns refer to a group of people, animals, or things as a single entity. These nouns are used to describe a collection of individuals or objects that share a common trait or characteristic.

For example, a “herd” of cows, a “flock” of birds, and a “team” of players are all collective nouns. Even though there may be multiple cows, birds, or players, they are referred to as a single entity.

One common mistake when using collective nouns is subject-verb disagreement. It can be confusing to determine whether to treat a collective noun as singular or plural. However, it is important to remember that collective nouns are typically treated as singular entities.

Here are some examples of collective nouns:

• A “family” of birds
• A “pack” of wolves
• A “fleet” of ships
• A “class” of students

Collective nouns can be either common or proper nouns . Common collective nouns are used to describe groups of things, while proper collective nouns are specific to a particular group or organization.

Here are some examples of proper collective nouns:

• The “United Nations”
• The “New York Yankees”
• The “Royal Family”

In conclusion, collective nouns are an important part of the English language. They allow us to describe groups of people, animals, or things as a single entity. Remember to treat collective nouns as singular entities and use them correctly in your writing.

Collective Nouns Examples

Here we have listed some of the more commonly used collective nouns for humans, animals, and objects.

List of Collective Nouns for People

These important collective nouns are commonly used under the category of people.

• A class of students.
• An army of soldiers.
• A choir of singers.
• A crew of sailors.
• A band of musicians.
• A bunch of crooks.
• A crowd of people/spectators.
• A gang of thieves.
• A group of dancers.
• A team of players.
• A troupe of artists/dancers.
• A pack of thieves.
• A staff of employees.
• A regiment of soldiers.
• A tribe of natives.
• An audience of listeners.
• A panel of experts.
• A gang of labourers.
• A flock of tourists.
• A board of directors.

List of Collective Nouns for Animals

The following collective nouns are used for animals.

• A catch of fish.
• An army of ants.
• A flight of birds.
• A flock of birds.
• A haul of fish.
• A flock of sheep.
• A herd of deer/cattle/elephants/goats/buffaloes.
• A hive of bees.
• A litter of cubs.
• A host of sparrows.
• A team of horses.
• A troop of lions.
• A zoo of wild animals.
• A pack of wolves.
• A litter of puppies/kittens.
• A swarm of bees/ants/rats/flies.
• A team of horses/ducks/oxen.
• A murder of crows.
• A kennel of dogs.
• A pack of hounds.

List of Collective Nouns for Things

The following collective nouns are used for things.

• A group of islands.
• A galaxy of stars.
• A wad of notes.
• A forest of trees.
• A stack of wood.
• A fleet of ships.
• A string of pearls.
• An album of stamps/autographs/photographs.
• A hedge of bushes.
• A library of books.
• A basket of fruit.
• A bowl of rice.
• A pack of cards.
• A pair of shoes.
• A bouquet of flowers.
• A bunch of keys.
• A chest of drawers.
• A pack of lies.
• A range of mountains.
• A cloud of dust.

These nouns are endless and these are just a list of those used more often. As you continue to work on improving your English, you will stumble across many more. Be sure to add them to your list and use them as frequently as you can.

Collective Nouns in Sentences

When using collective nouns in sentences, it’s important to remember that they refer to a group of people, animals, or things as a single entity. Here are some examples of collective nouns in sentences:

• The team is playing well today. (referring to a group of players)
• The herd of deer is grazing in the field. (referring to a group of deer)
• The jury has reached its verdict . (referring to a group of jurors)
• The committee is meeting tomorrow to discuss the budget. (referring to a group of committee members)

It’s important to note that collective nouns can be treated as singular or plural, depending on the context of the sentence. For example:

• The team is playing well today. (singular)
• The team are all wearing their new uniforms. (plural)

In the first sentence, “team” is treated as a singular entity, while in the second sentence, “team” is treated as a group of individuals.

When using collective nouns in sentences, it’s also important to use the correct verb agreement. For example:

• The family is going on vacation. (singular)
• The family are all packing their bags. (plural)

In the first sentence, “family” is treated as a singular entity, while in the second sentence, “family” is treated as a group of individuals.

Overall, using collective nouns in sentences can be tricky, but with practice and attention to context and verb agreement, you can use them effectively in your writing.

Collective Nouns Vs Countable and Uncountable Nouns

When it comes to nouns, there are different types that you need to know. Collective nouns are one of them. They refer to a group of people, animals, things, or ideas as a single entity. For example, “team” is a collective noun because it refers to a group of individuals as one unit.

On the other hand, countable nouns refer to things that can be counted, such as “books” or “chairs.” These nouns have both singular and plural forms, and we can use numbers to quantify them. Uncountable nouns, on the other hand, refer to things that cannot be counted, such as “water” or “sand.” We cannot use numbers to quantify them, and they only have a singular form.

One key difference between collective nouns and countable/uncountable nouns is how they are used with verbs. Collective nouns can be treated as either singular or plural, depending on the context and the writer’s preference. For example, “The team is playing well” uses the singular verb “is” because the team is being treated as a single entity. However, “The team are arguing among themselves” uses the plural verb “are” because the team is being treated as a group of individuals.

Countable and uncountable nouns, on the other hand, always take singular or plural verbs, respectively. For example, “The book is on the shelf” uses the singular verb “is” because “book” is singular. “The chairs are in the living room” uses the plural verb “are” because “chairs” is plural.

In summary, collective nouns refer to a group of individuals as a single entity, countable nouns can be counted and have both singular and plural forms, and uncountable nouns cannot be counted and only have a singular form. Collective nouns can be treated as either singular or plural, while countable and uncountable nouns always take singular or plural verbs, respectively.

Congratulations! You have now learned about collective nouns and how to use them correctly in your writing. Remember that collective nouns refer to a group of people, animals, things, or ideas as a single entity, and they are normally not treated as plural.

When using collective nouns, be mindful of subject-verb agreement. If the collective noun is singular, use a singular verb, and if it is plural, use a plural verb.

Here are some additional tips to keep in mind when using collective nouns:

• When in doubt, use a singular verb with a collective noun.
• If the collective noun refers to a specific group of people or things, it can be treated as a singular or plural noun depending on the context.
• Some collective nouns have both singular and plural forms, such as “family” and “families.”
• Avoid using collective nouns in a way that could be confusing or ambiguous. For example, instead of saying “The team are playing well,” say “The members of the team are playing well.”

By using collective nouns correctly, you can make your writing more precise and clear. Keep practicing and soon you will be a collective noun expert!

Frequently Asked Questions

What are some common examples of collective nouns for animals?

Collective nouns for animals are words that describe groups of animals. Some common examples include a herd of cows, a flock of birds, a pack of wolves, a school of fish, and a swarm of bees.

What are some collective nouns for groups of people?

Collective nouns for groups of people are words that describe groups of individuals. Some common examples include a team of players, a crew of sailors, a choir of singers, a staff of employees, and a jury of peers.

What is the difference between a collective noun and a regular noun?

A collective noun is a word that represents a group of individuals or things as a single entity. A regular noun, on the other hand, refers to a single person, place, thing, or idea. Collective nouns are often used with singular verbs, even though they refer to a group of individuals.

Can you provide some examples of collective nouns for things?

Collective nouns for things are words that describe groups of objects. Some common examples include a fleet of ships, a library of books, a bouquet of flowers, a set of tools, and a collection of art.

How can I use collective nouns in my writing?

Collective nouns can add variety and interest to your writing. They can be used to describe groups of people, animals, or things in a concise and creative way. When using collective nouns, be sure to use the appropriate verb form to match the singular or plural nature of the noun.

What are some creative ways to teach collective nouns to children?

Teaching collective nouns to children can be fun and engaging. Some creative ways to teach collective nouns include playing games like “I Spy” or “Name That Group,” reading books that use collective nouns, and creating art projects that illustrate collective nouns. You can also encourage children to come up with their own collective nouns for groups they encounter in their everyday lives.

Related Posts:

For______of rope, ______of soap, _______ of sand,, jam, sand, salt, sunlight, flour whT will be the collective nounadded before

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What are collective nouns?

A collective noun is a singular word that refers to a group or organization. Any one word that describes more than one person, place, thing, or idea falls under this category.

Some examples of collective nouns are: class , bouquet , public , team , and pack .

Our class is going on a trip to Paris.

In the example, the class consists of more than one person. The people in the group are all going to Paris. Therefore class is a collective noun. While it is possible for a teacher to teach only one student, the teacher would not refer to that student as a class .

Here are more examples of collective nouns in context.

The best team won the championship.

Will the government raise taxes this year?

Napoleon and his army were defeated at Waterloo.

Are collective nouns treated as singular or plural?

Forming sentences with collective nouns may offer additional challenges when you take subject-verb agreement into consideration. Are you supposed to treat collective nouns as singular or plural? In American English, collective nouns are typically treated as singular nouns as illustrated in the following examples:

Correct: My team is going to win.

Incorrect: My team are going to win.

Correct: The committee makes the rules.

Incorrect: The committee make the rules.

Correct: The herd has traveled across the Serengeti.

Correct: The herd have traveled across the Serengeti.

In the examples above, the singular verb is used because all members of the team , the committee , and the herd are performing the action as a unit.

There are situations when collective nouns act as plural nouns. To determine this, you need to consider the context of the sentence. If the members of the group are doing different things, acting more like individuals, a plural verb is more suitable.

Correct: The audience are all unhappy with the performance for different reasons.

Incorrect: The audience is unhappy with the performance for different reasons.

Some audience members might not have liked their seats, some might not have liked the music, others might not have liked the lighting. The plural verb ‘are’ is more appropriate than the singular verb ‘is’.

Correct: The staff have arrived from their hometowns.

Incorrect: The staff has arrived from their hometowns.

All of the staff members’ hometowns are different. They have traveled individually and probably arrived at different times. Therefore, we should use the plural auxiliary verb ‘have’ instead of the singular auxiliary verb ‘has’.

Learn more about different kinds nouns

There are several categories of nouns, and nouns can fall under more than one category. Some of the categories include common and proper nouns, concrete and abstract nouns, uncountable and countable nouns, and compound nouns .

Noun (bicycle, Mary, idea)

Proper Noun (Paris, Mary, Toyota)

Common Noun (city, woman, car)

Countable Noun (table, pencil, house)

Uncountable Noun (water, sand, knowledge)

Abstract Noun (freedom, kindness)

Concrete Noun (book, tree)

Collective Noun (family, team, class)

Compound Noun (football player, hot dog, handbag)

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What is a collective noun?

A collective noun is a noun used to refer to a group of things .

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You do not always need to have 'of....' after the collective noun; we also talk about a family, a jury, a team, an audience or a congregation.

In terms of subject-verb agreement , most collective nouns can be treated as singular or plural so we can use a singular verb or a plural noun when we use them. For example:

The whole class love their teacher. (singular verb) OR The whole class loves their teacher. (plural verb)

Some collective nouns, like people and police, are always used with a plural verb.

What are children taught at each stage of primary school regarding collective nouns?

Collective nouns are not found in the 2014 curriculum or in the latest Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling tests.

What could you do at home to help your child understand collective nouns?

Collective nouns can be really interesting and funny! Why not investigate some online? Kids' facts website Jellyquest has a comprehensive collective nouns list .

• Cut up some pieces of green card and write the following on each: bees, flowers, people, trees, fish, wolves, grapes, puppies. Now cut up some pieces of yellow card and write the following on each: crowd, pack, litter, bunch, swarm, bouquet, forest, shoal. Ask your child to match the green cards to the yellow cards. (Answers: a crowd of people, a pack of wolves, a litter of puppies, a bunch of grapes, a swarm of bees, a bouquet of flowers, a forest of trees, a shoal of fish.)
• Give your child some collective nouns that apply to various different things, for example: a pack of..., a series of...., a pile of...., a set of....  Ask your child to see if they can think of two different ways to complete each one.
• Ask your child to name an animal, an object and a particular profession. See if they can find out the collective noun for each of these. If your child is searching online, please make sure you supervise them closely.
• Once your child has done some more research into collective nouns, see if they can write a very short nonsense story including ten collective nouns, for example: 'A crowd of people walked into a forest of trees and saw a pack of wolves who gave them a bouquet of flowers...'

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Are Collective Nouns Singular or Plural?

More about Collective Nouns

Add a word to avoid the issue.

• The jury is/are to convene at 4 o'clock.

What Is a Collective Noun?

• committee, board, team, jury, family, choir, group
• colony of ants
• hive of bees
• school of dolphins
• parliament of owls
• cloud of bats
• a mob of kangaroos

This page was written by Craig Shrives .

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A Book Of Homework

A Book of Homework refers to a gathering or compilation of various tasks and assignments that pertain to academic subjects, typically given by teachers for students to complete outside of school hours. As a collective noun phrase, it showcases the diverse range of homework materials encompassed within a single book, emphasizing the comprehensive nature of the collection. The Book of Homework encapsulates various exercises, readings, projects, problem sets, and essays that aim to reinforce and expand upon concepts learned in the classroom. This collective entity represents the time, effort, and dedicated studying required in pursuit of educational goals, acting as a symbolic representation of the learning journey undertaken by students. Whether it sits on a desk, in a backpack or on a virtual learning platform, the Book of Homework serves as a tangible reminder of academic responsibilities, serving as a medium through which knowledge is reinforced and new skills are cultivated.

Using 'Book Of Homework' in a Sentence

• The Book of Homework is due next week, so make sure to finish your assignments.
• The professor handed out a Book of Homework to each student at the beginning of the semester.
• I need to buy a new Book of Homework because I lost my old one.

Collective Nouns That Start with B

Explore 183 more collective nouns that start with 'B'

Explore More 'B' Nouns

Test Your Collective Noun Knowledge!

Do you think you know your collective nouns? Take our fun and educational collective nouns quiz to find out!

Discover fascinating collective nouns for animals, people, things, and more. Challenge your friends and family to see who can score the highest!

Click the button below to start the quiz now!

Collective Nouns Starting With A, B, C...

Select a letter to view all the collective nouns that start with that letter.

'A' has an "Argument of Wizards". 'B' has a "Blessing of Unicorns". 'C' has a "Charm of Hummingbirds".

Discover & share them all with your friends! They'll be impressed. Enjoy!

Collective Nouns By Grade Level

By grade 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th & 6th