Collective Nouns

Collective nouns are those words that are used to denote a group of people, animals or things. Examples of Collective nouns are Band, fleet and pride. This article will discuss all the details about collective nouns. Read the article till the end to learn more about Collective nouns.

Also Check: Demonstrative Pronouns

Collective Nouns Definition

Collective nouns are those words that are used to denote a group of people, animals or things. The Collins Dictionary gives the definition of collective nouns as “a noun such as ‘family’ or ‘team’ that refers to a group of people or things”. Meanwhile, Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines a collective noun as “a noun such as ‘team’ or ‘flock’ that refers to a group of people or things”.

Also Check: Common Nouns

Examples of Collective Nouns

1. Swarm: A collective noun for bees or other insects that gather or move together in a large group.
2. Herd: A group of large animals, especially hoofed mammals like cattle, deer, or elephants, that live, feed, or move together.
3. Flock: A collective term for a group of birds, especially those like sheep, goats, or birds that feed, move, or roost together.
4. Pack: Typically used for a group of animals, such as wolves or dogs, that hunt, travel, or live together.
5. Pod: Used for marine animals, particularly whales, dolphins, or seals, that swim, hunt, or travel together.
6. Colony: A group of organisms of the same species living together, often with a division of labour and cooperative behaviour.
7. School: A collective noun for fish, particularly those swimming together in a coordinated manner.
8. Troop: Typically used for a group of soldiers or military personnel, but also applies to groups of animals, especially primates like monkeys or apes.
9. Pride: A term for a group of lions, usually consisting of multiple related females and their offspring, along with one or more dominant males.
10. Colony: A collective term for a group of social insects, like ants or termites, living together in a nest or structure.
11. Team: A group of individuals working together to achieve a common goal, often used in the context of sports or collaborative efforts.
12. Band: A small group of people, often musicians, who perform together.
13. Troop: A collective noun for a group of people or animals, typically used for scouts or soldiers.
14. Bevvy: Usually applied to a group of birds, particularly quails or larks, but can also refer to a large group of people or objects.
15. Colony: A term used for groups of bats that roost together, often in caves or other dark places.
16. Coven: A group of witches who gather together for ritualistic purposes or meetings.
17. Parliament: A collective term for a group of owls.
18. Murder: Used for a group of crows.
19. Gaggle: Typically used for a group of geese, but can also refer to a disorderly or noisy group of people.
20. Congress: A collective noun for a group of baboons.
21. Exaltation: Used for a group of larks.
22. Raft: Typically used for a group of ducks on water.
23. Convocation: A gathering of eagles.
24. Sounder: Used for a group of wild pigs.
25. Crash: A term for a group of rhinoceroses.

Also Check: Proper Nouns

Sentences with Collective Nouns

1. The garden was alive with a swarm of bees buzzing busily around the flowers.
2. The herd of cattle moved slowly across the open field, grazing on the lush grass.
3. A flock of seagulls circled overhead, searching for fish in the sparkling waters.
4. The pack of wolves moved stealthily through the forest, their eyes gleaming in the moonlight.
5. We were lucky to spot a pod of dolphins playing in the waves near the boat.
6. The ant colony worked tirelessly to gather food and expand their intricate network of tunnels.
7. A school of fish darted in unison, creating beautiful patterns in the clear blue water.
8. The troop of monkeys swung gracefully through the trees, chattering loudly to each other.
9. The pride of lions lounged lazily in the shade, their golden coats shimmering in the sunlight.
10. The termite colony had built an impressive mound that towered over the savanna.

Also Check: Plural Nouns

Collective Nouns Worksheet 1

Underline the collective nouns in these sentences.

1. The basketball team worked together seamlessly to score the winning basket in the final seconds of the game.
2. The band of musicians played a lively tune that had everyone tapping their feet.
3. The troop of boy scouts hiked through the rugged terrain, eager to reach their campsite before nightfall.
4. A bevy of young women giggled as they walked arm-in-arm down the street.
5. The colony of bats emerged from the cave at dusk, filling the sky with their flapping wings.
6. The coven of witches gathered around the cauldron, chanting incantations under the full moon.
7. A parliament of owls watched silently from their perches in the trees.
8. A murder of crows descended upon the cornfield, cawing loudly as they searched for food.
9. The gaggle of geese honked noisily as they waddled across the park.
10. A congress of baboons groomed each other affectionately, strengthening the bonds within their social group.
11. An exaltation of larks soared high into the sky, their melodic songs filling the air.
12. A raft of ducks floated serenely on the calm surface of the pond.
13. A convocation of eagles circled above the mountains, their keen eyes scanning for prey.
14. The sounder of wild pigs rooted through the forest floor, searching for roots and grubs.
15. A crash of rhinoceroses thundered across the plains, their massive bodies kicking up clouds of dust.

Also Check: Possessive Nouns

Collective Nouns Worksheet 2

• A group of bees is called a ___________.

Answer: Swarm

• The collective noun for a group of lions is a ___________.

Answer: Pride

• A ___________ of wolves moved stealthily through the forest.

Answer: Pack

Also Check: Abstract Nouns

• We saw a ___________ of dolphins playing in the ocean.

Answer: Pod

• The ___________ of ants worked tirelessly to gather food.

Answer: Colony

• A ___________ of sheep grazed peacefully in the meadow.

Answer: Flock

• The children watched a ___________ of birds flying overhead.

Answer: Flock

• We observed a ___________ of elephants bathing in the river.

Answer: Herd

• The ___________ of geese honked loudly as they flew south for the winter.

Answer: Gaggle

• The ___________ of fish swam gracefully through the coral reef.

Answer: School

• We heard the eerie calls of a ___________ of owls in the forest.

Answer: Parliament

• The ___________ of bats emerged from the cave at dusk.

Answer: Colony

• A ___________ of soldiers marched in perfect formation.

Answer: Troop

• The musicians formed a ___________ and played beautiful music.

Answer: Band

• We spotted a ___________ of kangaroos hopping across the field.

Answer: Mob

• A ___________ of wolves howled at the moon.

Answer: Pack

• The ___________ of dolphins leaped joyfully out of the water.

Answer: Pod

• We saw a ___________ of ships sailing on the horizon.

Answer: Fleet

• The ___________ of ants carried food back to their nest.

Answer: Colony

• The children watched a ___________ of ducks swimming in the pond.

Answer: Raft

• A ___________ of lions rested in the shade of the acacia trees.

Answer: Pride

• The ___________ of wolves hunted together to catch their prey.

Answer: Pack

• We heard the haunting calls of a ___________ of wolves in the distance.

Answer: Pack

• The ___________ of bees buzzed around the hive.

Answer: Swarm

• A ___________ of soldiers stood at attention in front of their commander.

Answer: Troop

Also Check: JEE Foundation Course

Collective Nouns FAQs

What is a collective noun?

A collective noun is a word used to describe a group of people, animals, or things as a single entity. It represents a collection of individuals acting together, such as herd, flock, or swarm.

Why are collective nouns used?

Collective nouns simplify language by allowing us to refer to a group of entities with a single word. They help convey information efficiently and can add richness and specificity to descriptions.

Can collective nouns be used for non-living things?

Yes, collective nouns can be used for non-living things as well. For example, a library of books, a fleet of ships, or a forest of trees. These collective nouns help describe groups of inanimate objects in a concise and vivid manner.