Collective Noun

Collective nouns are titles for a group or a group of persons or things. Collective nouns include phrases like band, herd, and array.

You may not realize it, but collective nouns are usually employed in regular routine. Collective nouns are terms for singular entities that contain more than one individual, animal, location, item, or idea. A group cannot be present without individualistic participants; however, we imply to a group as a singular body.

Here, we'll look more closely at collective nouns and present even more instances, putting them in context to help you grasp how they operate.

A collective noun is a term that implies to a group of individuals, animals, or a group of things overall. This is a type of noun that represents the majority of individuals or a group of persons, such as:

a group or a team (for instance: five football players)

a family (for instance: mother, father, and two children)

a crew (for instance: 100 sailors)

Here are some other instances of collective nouns. As you can see, collective nouns can refer to a small group of people or a group of ten, hundred, or thousands of other people:

a committee, a jury, a senate, a company, an audience, the police, and the army

The majority of collective nouns pertain to individuals and groups. However, some also relate to animals or objects, for instance:

animals: a herd of cattle, a flock of lamb items: a fleet of boats, a lorry convoy

Correlation of Proper Noun and the Collective Noun

Usually, collective nouns are common nouns, but since they're the name of a firm or other entity with more than one individual, such as Microsoft, they could also be proper nouns. Here are some additional proper nouns that are collective nouns:

Microsoft, Facebook, HBO, the BBC, the United Nations, UNESCO, Thai Air, Interpol, the FBI, Harvard University, and Manchester United are just a few of the firms operating.

Is it a Collective Noun Plural or Singular?

Each of the collective nouns listed above corresponds to a specific or a single "thing." However, it is made up of more than one individual. So, the concern is if a collective noun is singular or plural.

This gets us to the reply: it varies. A collective noun can indeed be singular or plural, based on how the people in the grouping are seen.

If you see the people behaving as a group, you presumably regard the collective noun as single (using a singular verb and singular pronoun), as in:

The jury has given its verdict to the court.

If you witness the individuals behaving separately, you will most likely regard the collective noun is plural (with plural verb and plural pronoun), as in:

The jury has not concluded a decision since they are still debating amongst themself.

To escape a logical contradiction, American English speakers could use a singular verb with the jury and reword the following sentence:

The jury has not made a decision since its participants are still disagreeing with one another.

Nevertheless, in American English, it is agreeable to utilize plural verbs if you want to stress the uniqueness of the collective noun individuals; you could use a plural verb.

The California crowds were their customary assertive self.

In American English, a plural pronoun can also be used along a singular verb, as in:

The next-door household is really modest. We don't ever hear them.

In all the forms, variety or types of English, the collective noun police is most often regarded as plural:

The police are visiting

The police were the initial to come.

The police have signed their report.

A collective noun might be - singular or plural

In most circumstances, a collective noun can be pluralized. To put it another way, you could have more than one collective noun. In a football match, for instance, there are different teams. There are numerous households on the road. In such circumstances, a plural verb is employed automatically, as in the following examples:

The many boats' crews in docks at the moment were literally battling.

The two organizations have been bargaining for over two weeks.

What if you can't seem to decide if a collective noun must be either singular or plural?

To ensure that there is no agreement problem, you might create your statement with alternative words. For instance, you could use the word "members" rather than "team," "players" rather than "team," "zebras" rather than "herd," or "students" rather than "class." Reread what you've written to ensure that it seems natural, and allow yourself some practice time. You'll quickly be able to employ plural verbs without worrying about making errors.

How to Make Use of Collective Nouns

When utilizing collective nouns, individuals who are novel to writing frequently struggle with sentence cohesion. This is logical given that a collective noun could be singular or plural based on the circumstances of a phrase. How can one comprehend that if a collective noun is singular or plural? How can one understand whether it's plural or not? Which pronouns and verbs work best with the collective noun you have selected?

Here's a quick tip for determining how to utilize collective nouns in sentences:

Consider a herd of zebras happily munching on the grassland. A lion leaps out of a cluster of long grass.

What are the zebras up to? They attempt to flee away as a single pack, rushing over the grassland in almost the same route.

People frequently react in the same manner, participating in a particular activity in tandem with everybody in their group. When people are members of a team, choirs, group, or just about any collective noun, that noun is single and is coupled with a singular pronoun and singular verb. As you examine the examples below, keep in mind that each person who is a part of a collective noun is performing the very same activity as others who are a component of that collective noun.

The herd accompanies its master to the waterhole each morning for fresh water. The word herd refers to a single aggregate noun. The word that comes after is a singular verb, and the term its is a singular pronoun. The entire herd arrives at the drinking hole at the same minute.
Today, Melissa's class takes its Grammar test. The term "class" refers to a single collective noun. The verb "takes" is single, while the pronoun its is singular. Melissa's class is all completing the very same test at the same moment.
The committee agrees that individuals are exploiting their mobile phones; its decision is that mobiles should not be used within work time. The term "committee" refers to a single collective noun. The verb "agrees" is singular, and the pronoun -its seems to be singular. The committee's members are now all feeling the same way.

Assume you have three teenagers in your living room. Are they all doing the same exact thing? Unlikely! One is glued to the television. Another option is to read a novel while listening to songs. The third is looking at the TV with one eye at his computer with the other. There is indeed a single group of youngsters, yet each participant is doing something separately.

Participants of collective noun can act similarly as an individual does on their own. Whenever individuals of a collective noun operate as people, the collective word becomes plural and must be associated with another collective noun. When participants of a collective noun act as an individual, the collective noun becomes plural and requires the use of plural pronouns and plural verbs. You'll note that the individuals of the collective noun aren't working in tandem as you study the examples below.

After seven hours of sitting in the humid chamber, the jury relaxes, checks their phones, and makes their way to their automobiles for the ride back home.

In this case, the jury is a plural collective noun. Relax and check are all plural verbs with a plural pronoun. The members of the jury are relaxing and checking their phones before departing in separate vehicles to their respective homes.

After taking an exam, the class begins writing papers on Shakespeare's sonnets. In this case, class is now a plural collective noun. There is a plural pronoun and a plural verb in the beginning. . Despite being in the same class, the students will continue their respective papers on several sonnets penned by Shakespeare.

Key Points to Remember

Unless the situation emphasizes the people in the grouping, consider a collective word as singular.

The choir isn't singing in tune.

Due to the heat, the choir was falling.

If you're not sure whether to regard a collective noun as single or plural, add a phrase like "members of" in front to make it appear as a plural.

Due to the weather, members of the group fainted.

Be constant across your phrase after you have determined if your collective noun is singular or plural.

The group is altering its policy.

The group are switching their clothing.

By using "wrong" collective nouns as a creative writing method could be beneficial. a swarm of youngsters

Most common collective noun

Terms that express groups of animals, individuals, or objects are included in this list of frequent collective nouns. These terms are occasionally used interchangeably, and different writers frequently use them to express many things. For instance, the term swarm is often used to describe a swarm of bugs like ants, flies, or bees, but many authors use it to describe a large gathering of people. Once you've been acquainted with these terms, you'll realize that they're employed in a variety of contexts.

A herd is a grouping of herbivorous animals.
A pack is a pack of canine creatures, like wolves or dogs; it is also used to represent playing cards and bundles holding many goods.
Flock - A gathering of birds; sometimes used to refer to small hooved animals like sheep or goats.
A swarm is a swarm of bugs.
A shoal is indeed a clump of fishes.
Group - A broad phrase that encompasses individuals, locations, objects, and animals.
Crowd - A term used to indicate a large collection of individuals.
Gang - A term used to indicate a gang of criminals; it can also refer to a group of employees, especially sailors or longshoremen.
Mob - A gathering of furious or disorderly people, mostly used to denote a gang of kangaroos.
Staff - A group of persons who work together in the same location.
Crew - A group of employees, sometimes used to represent personnel on planes and ships.
A choir is a large and well-organized collection of singers.
Orchestra - A big, well-organized ensemble of instrumentalists directed by a musician.
A panel consists of a group of specialists.
A board is a group of persons, typically professionals, who be in service as advisors.
Troupe - A troupe is a collection of actors or acrobats; it is often used to define a show.
Bunch - A collection of little items such as grapes, wildflowers, key, or bananas.
A pile is an unruly accumulation of goods such as trash.
Heap - A mounded accumulation of goods; synonymous with "pile."
Set - A neat collection of matching items, such as plates, can also be used to indicate norms or a social collection of persons.
Stack - A set of items neatly stacked one on atop of another; for example, a stack of textbooks.
Series - A term used to describe movies, novels, or events occurring sequentially, such as Star Trek or Harry Potter.
Shower - Typically used to indicate rain, although it can also refer to presents or praises.
Fall - Term used to describe weather conditions such as rainfall, snowfall, or hailstorm.

Examples of Collective Nouns in a sentence

Our class visited the science museum on fieldwork.
The herd of buffalo stampeded across the grassland, creating a gigantic plume of smoke in its path.
They waited for the jury's decision with bated breath.
Last year's hockey team features three players that are taller than five feet.
At Leipzig, Napoleon's army was soundly defeated.
The proposals for a sports complex have been approved by the city council.
He hails from a large family, as the eldest of 12 children.
The rock band was on vacation for several weeks.
Whenever Presley appeared on stage, the entire audience erupted in applause.