Collective Nouns
Collective nouns name a group of individuals or things as a single unit, and they shape how we think about that group.
Key Collective Nouns
Key collective nouns name groups in everyday contexts like animals, people, and things, so learning them helps you describe scenes clearly.
| English Word(s) | English Word(s) |
|---|---|
| a flock of sheep | a herd of cows |
| a pack of wolves | a pride of lions |
| a gaggle of geese | a pod of dolphins |
| a swarm of bees | a colony of ants |
| a troop of monkeys | a band of gorillas |
| English Example | English Explanation |
|---|---|
| "A flock of sheep grazed on the hillside." | 'Flock' refers to a group of sheep. |
| "A herd of cows crossed the road." | 'Herd' is used for a group of cows. |
| "A pack of wolves howled at the moon." | 'Pack' describes a group of wolves. |
| "A pride of lions rested under the tree." | 'Pride' is the collective noun for lions. |
| "A gaggle of geese waddled along the path." | 'Gaggle' refers to geese on land. |
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Usage
Collective nouns can take singular or plural verbs depending on whether you see the group as one unit or as individuals acting separately. In American English, collective nouns usually take a singular verb when the group is considered a single entity.
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Examples
| English Example | English Explanation |
|---|---|
| "The shepherd watched over the flock of sheep." | Collective noun shows the group cared for. |
| "A herd of cows was moving slowly across the field." | Singular verb with collective noun. |
| "Several flocks of sheep dotted the valley." | Plural of collective groups. |
| "The flock took flight when the dog approached." | Group acting together. |
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More Collective Nouns
More collective nouns come from specific domains like music, food, and people, and they add color when you name groups precisely.
| English Word(s) | English Word(s) |
|---|---|
| a choir of singers | a cast of actors |
| a fleet of ships | a bunch of grapes |
| a pack of cards | a swarm of locusts |
| a panel of judges | a fleet of taxis |
| a jury of peers | a cluster of stars |
| English Example | English Explanation |
|---|---|
| "A shoal of fish shimmered in the water." | 'Shoal' or 'school' for fish. |
| "A colony of ants marched across the picnic blanket." | 'Colony' for social insects. |
| "A troop of monkeys swung through the trees." | 'Troop' refers to monkeys. |
| "An army of caterpillars crawled along the branch." | 'Army' for large groups of insects. |
| "A parliament of owls sat silently on the branches." | 'Parliament' is a poetic group for owls. |
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Summary
Collective nouns name groups as single units, key examples come from animals and people, and verb agreement depends on whether you treat the group as one entity or many.
Last updated: Sun Sep 14, 2025