Using the plural form of a noun for several people, animals, and even objects all the time can make your essay repetitive and bland. Luckily, incorporating collective nouns (like pride and swarm) can add variety to your writing. But what are they, and how do you use them? In this article, we’re going to talk about everything you need to know about collective nouns, including whether or not you should treat them as singular or plural.
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What Is a Collective Noun?
A collective noun is a term you use to refer to a group of people (like jury and crew), animals (lole herd and pack), or objects (like bunch and fleet) that have similar characteristics. Some common examples of collective nouns include “team,” “flock,” “audience,” and “bundle.”
Are Collective Nouns Singular or Plural?
Generally, collective nouns are treated as singular in American English. The verb that follows the collective noun is also singular.
For example, in the sentence, “The team is preparing for its next game.” We treat the collective noun “team” as a single unit, which is why a singular verb and pronoun are used. This rule applies whether or not the people in the group are working in unison or separately.
On the other hand, British English has some exceptions to that rule. The collective noun can either be singular or plural, depending on the context.
When the group acts as one, make the collective noun singular, and a singular verb must follow it. For example: “The cast is having a party later today.” However, if you look at individuals within the group, a plural verb is appropriate. In this case, you’ll say, “The cast are always practicing their lines late.”
Collective Nouns vs. Common Nouns
A lot of people confuse collective nouns and common nouns, but they are entirely different.
Unlike collective nouns that refer to groups as a single entity, common nouns represent a type of item, place, or person. For instance, in the sentence, “My flock of sheep is growing.” Flock is a collective noun that describes a group of sheep, while sheep is a common noun that talks about one sheep.
Keep in mind that collective nouns and common nouns do not refer to a specific thing or person (unlike proper nouns). For instance, the nouns “jury” (a collective noun) and “lawyer” (a common noun) are not specific. You can use these nouns to describe two different things of the same type. For example, there could be Jury 1 and 2 or Lawyers A and B.
How to Use Collective Nouns in a Sentence?
Using collective in a sentence can be confusing for some. Here is a step-by-step guide to help you out:
Step 1: Understand the Context of the Collective Noun
As mentioned earlier, American English treats collective nouns as singular. However, that doesn’t mean that you can’t treat collective nouns as plural—albeit it is uncommon.
So, when you are deciding between using the singular or plural form, you have to look at the context.
For instance, when the group is performing as a whole, use singular verbs and pronouns like in the sentence, “The team is preparing for its game.”
However, if the members are operating individually within the group, use plural forms such as “The staff are sharing their personal experiences during the meeting.”
Step 2: Consider Subject-Verb Agreement and Subject-Pronoun Agreement
In American English, the best practice is to treat collective nouns as singular, such as “The family is going on a vacation.” So, the verb should always be singular.
In British English, the verb depends on the context. For a united action, the subject is treated as singular, so the verb ought to be singular as well. For instance: “The committee has made up its mind.”
Group members acting independently make the subject plural. As such, it should be followed by a plural verb as shown; “The committee are voicing their decisions.”
How about pronouns? Pronouns should correspond to the usage of the subject. If the group forms one single entity (singular subject), use singular pronouns, for example, “The jury gave its verdict.” If you’re emphasizing individual members (plural subject), use plural pronouns such as, “The jury are sharing their opinions.”
Step 3: Be Consistent
Lastly, maintain consistency in your sentence. If you’re using collective nouns as the singular form, use singular pronouns and verbs throughout. Also, ensure you don’t combine singular and plural verbs and pronouns within the same sentence.
Examples of Collective Nouns
Using collective nouns helps to talk about groups as one entity without narrowing them down to each member. Below, we’ll explore some common collective nouns based on the category they represent: people, things, and animals.
Common Collective Nouns for People
These collective nouns usually describe people with common traits, purpose, profession, or even blood ties. Here are some collective nouns used to describe different groups of people.
| Collective Nouns for People | Explanation | Example in a sentence |
| Family | A group of people related by blood, marriage, or adoption. | Our family treasures and appreciates you for what you did. |
| Staff | A group of employees working in an organization. | The staff was eager to assist customers during the holiday rush. |
| Jury | A group of people selected to decide the verdict in a trial. | The jury deliberated for hours before reaching a final decision. |
| Audience | A group of people who gather to watch or listen to a performance or event. | The audience clapped enthusiastically after the performance. |
| Choir | A group of singers | The choir is singing the national anthem. |
| Gang | A group of people, often involved in a criminal activity. | The gang of thieves ran when they heard the police siren. |
| Band | A group of musicians | The band performed yesterday at our local bar. |
| Crowd | A group of people gathered in one place. | A crowd of people started showing up in front of the city hall. |
| Committee | A group of people that was appointed for a specific role in a department, company, or agency. | The committee sent out its latest policy. |
| Troop | A group of soldiers. | We sent out a new troop to take over the mission. |
| Crew | A group of people working either on a ship (sailors) or aircraft. | The crew repaired the plane. |
| Class | A group of students. | The teacher reprimanded the class. |
| Team | A group of people working together. | Our hometown team finally defeated their rivals! |
Common Collective Nouns for Objects / Things
Objects or things may be categorized based on specific common characteristics, purposes, or size. Here are common collective nouns used to name objects/ things.
| Collective Nouns for Objects / Things | Explanation | Example in a sentence |
| Bundle | A collection of things tied or wrapped together. | She carried a bundle of clothes to the laundromat. |
| Pile | A large number of things that are stacked together. | There was a pile of books on the desk waiting to be read. |
| Set | A collection of related objects, often used for a particular purpose. | He purchased a new set of tools for his workshop. |
| Bunch | A collection of things fastened together or growing together. | He gave her a bunch of flowers on their anniversary. |
| Collection | A group of items put together for a specific purpose or hobby. | She proudly displayed her rare collection of shoes. |
| Fleet | A group of ships or vehicles. | A fleet of ships passed through the bay. |
| Stack | A group of things that are stacked vertically on top of one another. | A stack of books fell down on the floor. |
| Heap | A disorderly collection of items. | Can you please rake the heap of leaves? |
| Set | A group of items that are often designed to be used together. | My set of tools for our bathroom renovation is missing. |
Common Collective Nouns for Animals
Animals can also be grouped. Collective nouns for animals are usually based according to their behavior, outlook, or habitat. Here are some of the well-known collective nouns that describe groups of animals:
| Collective Nouns for Animals | Explanation | Example in a sentence |
| Swarm | A large group of insects, especially bees or ants. | The swarm of bees surrounded the hive during the summer. |
| Colony | A group of animals living together in a specific area, often used for insects or seabirds. | The colony of termites had built an elaborate network of mounds and tunnels. |
| Pride | A group of lions. | The pride of lions rested in the shade to escape the heat of the day. |
| Flock | A group of birds or sheep. | The flock of birds flew south for the winter. |
| Pack | A group of wolves or dogs. | The pack of wolves howled at the moon. |
| Litter | A group of kittens or puppies. | My dog gave birth to a litter of puppies three days ago. |
| Herd | A group of sheep, deer, cattle, or elephants. | A herd of elephants traveled into the southern portion of the safari. |
| Gaggle | A group of geese. | A gaggle of geese randomly flew. |
| Drove | A group of pigs. | A drove of pigs were transported. |
| Cackle | A group of hyenas. | I heard a cackle of hyenas howling last night. |
| Cluster | A group of stars. | Look at that cluster of stars! |
| Murder | A group of crows. | Check out the murder of crows perched on our fence. |
| Pod | A group of dolphins. | I can see a pod of dolphins swimming next to our boat. |
| Rafter | A group of turkeys | A rafter of turkeys is enjoying the open farm. |
| Parliament | A group of owls. | If you look over there, you’ll see a parliament of owls. |
| Bask | A group of crocodiles. | A bask of crocodiles are sunbathing. |
