LoginCollective Nouns for intermediate learners
If we want to represent certain individual nouns as one entity we can make use of collective nouns. In this lesson, you'll learn about their structure and uses.
What Are Collective Nouns?
Collective nouns refer to a group or collection of people or things as a single unit.
Common Collective Nouns
In the list below, you can see some examples of common collective nouns:
- Band
- Gang
- Class
- Crowd
- Team
- Panel
- Pack
- Herd
- Bunch
- Bouquet
Tip!
While most collective nouns refer to groups of people, some can also refer to animals or objects:
- Animals: herd, flock, pack
- Things: bunch, bouquet
Collective Nouns: Singular or Plural?
Whether a collective noun is considered singular or plural depends on the context, and how we perceive the individuals in the group.
If we are considering them as a
The family still
However, if we are thinking of the individuals as separate entities, the collective noun is plural and should be paired with plural verbs and pronouns. For example:
The team
Tip!
In American English, collective nouns are typically paired with singular verbs, while in British English, they are often paired with plural verbs.
The police
The police
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