Collective Nouns: What They Are and How To Use Them

Do you know what a collective noun is? This article will provide you with all of the information you need on collective nouns, including the definition, usage, example sentences, and more!

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What is a collective noun?

According to 7ESL, a collective noun refers to a group of people, animals or a collection of things taken as a whole. Make sure when using these that your subject verb agreement remains intact – use plural verbs with plural nouns and singular verbs with singular nouns.

What are examples of collective nouns?

A collective noun can be used in many different contexts in the English language. Trying to use a word or literary technique in a sentence is one of the best ways to memorize what it is, but you can also try making flashcards or quizzes that test your knowledge. Try using this term of the day in a sentence today! Below are many examples of collective nouns from 7 ESL that can help get you started incorporating this tool into your everyday use.  Try to use the term collective noun today or notice when someone else is using a collective noun. 

  •  A pack of sharks
  •  A choir of singers
  •  A flock of sheep
  •  A pity/A gang of prisoners
  •  A mob of rioters
  •  A herd of ponies
  •  An orchestra of musicians
  •  A quiz of teachers
  •  A pack of wolves
  •  A flock of birds
  •  A trip of hippies
  •  A regiment of soldiers
  •  A mutter of mothers-in-law
  •  A bunch of pigeons
  •  A herd of cranes
  •  A mob of emus
  •  A joint of osteopaths
  •  A shower of meteorologists
  •  A squat of daubers
  •  A crowd of onlookers
  •  A pound of Englishmen
  •  A group of engineers
  •  A herd of cattle
  •  A herd of antelope
  •  A herd of chamois
  •  A pomposity of professors
  •  An embarrassment /A persistence of parents
  •  A prudence of vicars
  •  A board of trustees
  •  A gang of criminals
  •  A herd of walruses
  •  A flock of bustards
  •  A mess/An execution of officers
  •  A gang of thieves
  •  A troupe of monkeys
  •  A band of musicians
  •  A rout of schoolboys
  •  A team of athletes
  •  A herd of elk
  •  A thought of barons
  •  A herd of swans
  •  A subtlety of sergeants at law
  •  An absence/An order of waiters
  •  A rash of dermatologists
  •  A house of senators
  •  A rookery/A school of clerks
  •  An observance of hermits
  •  A herd of oxen
  •  A bed of oysters
  •  A promise of barmen
  •  A flock of tourists
  •  A swarm of ants
  •  A herd of yaks
  •  A herd of wolves
  •  A lie/An equivocation of politicians
  •  A posse of sheriffs
  •  A swarm of eels
  •  A herd of deer
  •  A troupe of dancers
  •  A flock of turkeys
  •  A stack of homework 
  •  A shower of bastards
  •  A staff of teachers
  •  A school of clerks
  •  A series of events
  •  A pack of mongooses
  •  A flock of parrots
  •  A fall of woodcock
  •  A choir of angels
  •  A hive of bees
  •  A herd of sea horses
  •  A herd of horses
  •  A herd of buffaloes
  •  A flock of pigeons
  •  A pack of bears (polar bears)
  •  A stalk of foresters
  •  A host of angels
  •  A mob of meerkats
  •  An obscurity/A rhyme of poets
  •  An obeisance of servants
  •  A shoal of fish
  •  A pride of lions
  •  A set of bowls
  •  A pack of weasels
  •  A plush/A rascal of boys
  •  A mob of thieves
  •  A herd of pigs
  •  A herd of fairies
  •  A pack of coyotes
  •  A flock of goats
  •  A herd of seals
  •  A troupe of acrobats
  •  A brood of hens
  •  A horde of savages
  •  A mug/A reflection of narcissists
  •  A herd of moose
  •  A shoal of salmon
  •  A tribe of Indians
  •  A board of chess players
  •  A herd of goats
  •  A heap of trash
  •  A wisdom of grandparents
  •  A superfluity of nuns
  •  A swarm of bees
  •  A pack of hounds
  •  A set/A swish of hairdressers
  •  A shuffle of bureaucrats
  •  A gang of hoodlums
  •  An expectation of midwives
  •  A pack of dogs
  •  A posse of police
  •  A pack of stoats
  •  A series of radiologists
  •  A gang of prisoners
  •  A bunch of flowers
  •  A number/A set of mathematicians
  •  A patrol of policemen
  •  An amble of walkers
  •  A team of players
  •  A swarm of rats
  •  A gang of slaves
  •  An attitude/A grunt of teenagers
  •  A staff of employees
  •  A herd of caribou
  •  A pan of reviewers
  •  An audience of listeners
  •  A slither of gossip columnists
  •  A flock of seagulls
  •  A herd of llamas
  •  An eloquence of lawyers
  •  A herd of giraffes
  •  A pack of gulls
  •  A tabernacle of bakers
  •  A shrivel of critics
  •  A pack of Brownies
  •  A squad of soldiers
  •  A pack of mules
  •  A group of islands
  •  A squad of beaters
  •  An amalgamation of metallurgists
  •  A panel of experts
  •  A meter of percussionists
  •  A troupe of artistes
  •  A stack of books
  •  A herd of zebras
  •  A kindle of kittens
  •  An army of soldiers
  •  A slate of candidates
  •  A flock of chickens
  •  A herd of swine
  •  A pint of Irishmen
  •  A board of directors
  •  A herd of whales
  •  A circle of friends
  •  A scoop/A slant of journalists
  •  A simplicity of subalterns
  •  A tantrum of decorators
  •  A tribe of natives
  •  A troop of boy scouts
  •  A wheeze of joggers
  •  A side of dancers
  •  A litter of puppies
  •  A scolding of seamstresses
  •  A talent of gamblers
  •  A herd of donkeys
  •  An alley/A pratfall of clowns
  •  A shoal of herrings
  •  An impatience of wives
  •  A group of people
  •  A sneer of butlers
  •  A shoal of bass
  •  A sample of salesmen
  •  A poverty of pipers
  •  A melody of harpists
  •  A sprig of vegetarians
  •  An illusion of magicians
  •  A multiply/An unhappiness of husbands
  •  A flock of swifts
  •  A swarm of flies
  •  A troupe of shrimp
  •  A herd of cows
  •  A shoal of pilchards
  •  A herd of boar
  •  A pack of rats
  •  A flock of geese
  •  A herd of wrens
  •  A fall of lambs
  •  A rage of maidens
  •  A party of friends
  •  A pile of books
  •  A troupe of performers
  •  An expectation of heirs
  •  A band of apes
  •  A morbidity of majors
  •  A swarm of insects
  •  A sentence of judges
  •  A roll of drummers
  •  A gaggle of geese
  •  A crew of sailors
  •  A picket of strikers
  •  A packet of salt
  •  A fleet of ships
  •  A herd of chinchillas
  •  A swarm of gnats
  •  A gang of laborers
  •  A bunch of seals
  •  A mob of sheep
  •  A slouch of models
  •  A staff of servants
  •  A line of kings/rulers
  •  A herd of elephants
  •  A bouquet of flowers
  •  A squeal of nieces
  •  A pack of thieves
  •  A set of utensils
  •  A group of guinea pigs
  •  A peck of Frenchmen
  •  A swarm of butterflies
  •  A wandering of tinkers
  •  A flock of ducks
  •  A mob of kangaroos
  •  An imposition of in-laws
  •  A series of photos
  •  A set/A subtlety of designers
  •  A worship of writers
  •  A flock of camels
  •  A gang of crooks
  •  A pack of grouse 
  •  A group of dancers
  •  An obstruction of dons
  •  A herd of gnus
  •  A crowd of people
  •  A class of pupils
  •  An entrance of actresses
  •  A brace/A wince of dentists
  •  A belt of asteroids
  •  An ambush of widows
  •  A bundle of joy

Overall, the word collective noun refers to a group of things.

Sources:

Collective Noun: Definition, List & Examples of Collective Nouns in English | 7ESL

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Kevin Miller is a growth marketer with an extensive background in Search Engine Optimization, paid acquisition and email marketing. He is also an online editor and writer based out of Los Angeles, CA. He studied at Georgetown University, worked at Google and became infatuated with English Grammar and for years has been diving into the language, demystifying the do's and don'ts for all who share the same passion! He can be found online here.

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