Collective Noun Examples: How to Use Collective Nouns

A collective noun refers to a group behaving singularly. Collective nouns function grammatically as a single entity since the group members are acting or behaving in unison. Examples of collective nouns include “choir,” “gaggle of geese,” and “galaxy of stars.”

A collective noun refers to a group that is behaving in a singular way and therefore requires a singular verb. A plural noun refers to more than one person, place, or thing and requires the use of a plural verb. Plural nouns usually end in -s, -es, or -ies.

In English grammar, collective nouns fall into three categories, depending on what the noun is referring to:

1. 1. People: Collective nouns that refer to groups of people include “army,” “league,” “electorate,” “team,” and “class.”
2. 2. Animals: Collective nouns referring to groups of animals will often be specific to a particular species, such as a “murder of crows, a “pod of whales,” a “pride of lions,” a “bevy of swans,” a “school of fish,” or a “flock of birds.”
3. 3. Things: There are also collective nouns that refer to things like a “grove of trees” or a “bloom of flowers.” Some collective nouns for things are not part of everyday speech, but they can add depth and interest to your vocabulary and writing.

For collective nouns to work correctly, they must function in the sentence as a single unit, meaning that they will correspond to a singular verb. This is called verb agreement. Consider the following examples:

• “The board is deliberating on the new proposal.” The verb phrase “is deliberating” uses a singular verb rather than a plural verb, even though “the board” refers to more than one person. Since the individual members who make up the board act in a singular, coordinated way, use the collective noun and a singular verb.
• “The hive of bees was working furiously to produce honey.” Here, “was working” is a singular verb. Without the collective noun “the hive,” the sentence requires the plural verb “were working,” as in “The bees were working furiously to produce honey.”
• “All the families at the wedding seem to have the same sense of style.” This sentence refers to multiple families (hence the plural verb “seem”), but each family is a collective noun in its own right.
• “The locust swarms are descending on the town.” Here, each swarm is acting as a single entity, but because there is more than one swarm, this sentence requires a plural verb.

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