COLLECTIVE NOUNS

Read the following sentences.

 A large crowd gathered in the street.

 The hungry fox saw a bunch of grapes hanging from the vine.
 We were attacked by a swarm of bees.

Here the words crowd, bunch and swarm stand for a collection of people, a collection
of grapes and a collection of bees. Nouns which are thus used to denote a collection of
people or things are called collective nouns.

List of Common Collective Nouns

 Herd– A group of herbivore animals

 Pack– A group of canine animals such as wolves or dogs; also used to describe playing
cards and packages containing multiple objects
 Flock– A group of birds; also used to discuss small hooved animals such as sheep or
goats
 Swarm– A group of insects
 Shoal– A group of fish belonging to different breeds
 Group – A very general term used to describe people, places, things, and animals
 Crowd – Usually used to describe a group of people
 Gang – Usually used to describe a group of criminals; also used to describe a group of
workers, particularly sailors or dock workers
 Mob – Normally used to describe an angry or unruly group of people; also used to
describe a group of kangaroos
 Staff – A group of people who work in the same place
 Crew – Usually used to denote a group of workers; also used to describe aircraft and
ships personnel
 Choir – A large, organized group of singers
 Orchestra – A large, organized group of instrumentalists, led by a conductor
 Panel – A group of experts
 Board – A group of people, usually professionals, who take on an advisory role
 Troupe – A group of actors or acrobats; also used to describe a group of monkeys
 Bunch – Usually a group of smallish objects such as grapes, flowers, keys, or bananas
 Pile – An untidy collection of items such as rubbish
 Heap – A mounded collection of items; used interchangeably with “pile”
 Set – A tidy group of matched objects such as dishes; also used to describe rules or a
social group of people
 Stack – A group of items neatly laid one on top of another; i.e., a stack of books
 Series – Used to discuss movies, books, or events that follow one after another, i.e. Star
Trek or Harry Potter
 Shower – Usually used to describe rain, although it can be used to describe gifts or
compliments
 Pride- Usually used to refer to a groups of lions
 Hive – Used to refer to bees
 Audience – People attending a show or concert
 Galaxy – Used to refer to the abundant stars
 Crew - Used to refer to a team of sailors
 Team – A group of people who work together for a common purpose
Complete the following sentences using appropriate collective nouns

1. A _________________ of locusts attacked a ____________________ of cattle.

2. A ____________________ of birds is always a beautiful sight.

3. They welcomed the chief guest with a ____________________ of flowers.

4. As we drove down the country side, we saw a ____________________ of sheep

grazing in the fields.

5. The ____________________ of thieves has been arrested by the police.

6. There we saw a man carrying a ____________________ of clothes on his head.

7. A ____________________ of musicians was hired to perform at the party.

8. My friend has a fine ____________________ of old stamps.

9. She bought a ________________ of bread from the bakery.

10. A __________________ of doctors have arrived at the hospital.

11. Did you see the __________________ of soldiers there?

12. I met a ______________ of sailors today.

13. A famous ________________ of dancers will dance at the wedding tonight.

14. The hotel staff welcomed the ______________ of baseball players from USA with
garlands.

15. We saw a ______________ of lions at the zoo.

16. Jack tied a _____________________ of sticks with a piece of rope.

17. The children were taken to the aquarium where they saw a __________ of dolphins.

18. There is a ________________ of puppies behind in the garden.

19. Will the _______________ of directors accept his decision?

20. When I lost my keys, I had to check under the _____________ pile of unfolded clothes
on my bed.

21. My best friend and I bought ourselves a ______________ of matching pearl rings to
remember our friendship.

22. The students of Grade 6 were taken to the gallery to observe the ________________
galaxy of stars using a telescope.

23. Rani recently bought a _______________ of playing cards.

24. Everyone in the ______________________ applauded loudly when Taylor Swift

appeared on stage.

25. A _____________ of reporters crowded at the entrance of the airport to collect footage
of the Indian hockey team leaving for France.