Introduction to Collective Nouns

Collective Nouns

A collective noun is a word used to represent a group of people, animals, or things.

• crowd

• team

• flock

• herd

• fleet

• bunch

Collective nouns can use either singular or plural verbs. If all members of the collective noun are doing the same thing at the same time, the noun needs a singular verb. When the members of the collective are acting as individuals, the noun needs a plural verb.

Ex. Each volleyball team has six players. (singular)

Ex. Our family sit separately in the stadium. (plural)

Identify the collective noun or nouns in each sentence.

Multiple Choice

A flock of birds flies over the lake.

• flock

• geese

• flies

• lake

Multiple Choice

The speaker faced the audience and began her presentation.

• speaker

• faced

• audience

• presentation

Multiple Choice

A swarm of bees buzzed around the group of picnickers.

• swarm

• bees

• group

• swarm, group

Multiple Choice

A soccer team in England is known as a football club.

• team

• club

• team, club

• soccer, football

Multiple Choice

A bunch of purple grapes sits in the yellow bowl.

• bunch

• grapes

• bowl

• bunch, bowl

Multiple Choice

The 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team won a gold medal.

• U.S.

• hockey

• team

• medal

Multiple Choice

The squad of firefighters showed great bravery.

• squad

• firefighters

• bravery

• squad, bravery

Multiple Choice

The committee will meet on Saturday.

• committee

• meet

• Saturday

• committee, meet

Multiple Choice

My friend and I walked to the river to feed a gaggle of geese.

• friend

• river

• gaggle

• geese

Multiple Choice

Whenever the band begins to play, a crowd gathers to watch.

• band

• crowd

• gathers

• band, crowd