Collective nouns

Collective nouns are special nouns that stand for a group of people, animals, birds, inanimate things or insects. For example, in the phrase "a pride of lions", pride is a collective noun. Collective nouns can take singular or plural verbs depending on whether the group acts as a unity (singular) or as separate individuals (plural).

e.g. The family were on friendly terms. Our little group is complete again.

Our family is quite small. The group wish to join in a conversation.

Note: majority/minority can be used as singular or plural. If it is not followed by a plural noun, the verb after it is usually singular. In case it is, the verb is plural.

e.g. The majority believes that we are in no danger.

The majority of the students believe him to be innocent.

Collective nouns standing for people

army audience band blast board choir congress crew gang chorus congregation government clan committee family orchestra class company gaggle group patrol brigade troupe tribe company troop cast faculty banner bench squad house colony cortege

Collective nouns standing for animals

a cloud/colony of bats a sloth of bears a caravan of camels a clutter of cats a herd of cattle/sheep/goats a pack/kennel of dogs/wolves a bury of rabbits a parade of elephants a band of gorillas a string of horses a yoke of oxen a bevy of roe deer/ pheasants a pride of lions a skulk of foxes a litter of kittens a down of hares a kindle of kittens a troop of monkeys a dray of squirrels a shoal/school of fish/whales a zeal of zebras a drove of pigs a colony of rats

Collective nouns standing for birds

a flock of birds/chickens a brood of chickens/hens a hover of crows an aerie of eagles a gaggle of geese a covey of grouse a flight of swallows a game of swans a squabble of seagulls a bevy of quails a run of poultry

Collective nouns standing for insects

a hive of bees a swarm of ants/bees/flies a colony of ants/wasps/lice a flight of butterflies a swarm of flies a flight of insects a clutter of spiders

*** Some nouns are always associated with the idea of plurality; they denote a group of separate individuals: police, clergy, gentry, cattle, poultry, vermin, people.

e.g. The cattle are grazing.

The police here are efficient.

Are there any people in the hall?

Collective nouns indicating time, money and distance

Collective nouns refer to an entire group. When a collective noun indicates a period of time, a sum of money, or a measurement, it takes a singular verb.

e.g. Twenty-five dollars is too much to pay for that shirt.

Fifty minutes isn’t enough time to finish this test.

Two miles is too much to run in one day.

Two weeks is enough time to finish the contract.

Ten dollars is all I have.

Seven pounds is an average weight for a newborn.