What is Collective Noun And Example? | Exercise, Worksheet

Hello learners! Today we are going to learn about one of the amazing types of nouns, i.e., collective nouns and example. It is an amazing and entertaining topic, which you are going to read. Here we have given some examples of collective nouns with their definitions so that you can understand the topic, in a very easy way. Also, in the end, we have provided you with the exercise and worksheet questions for you to practice and test your knowledge.

What is a Collective Noun?

A collective noun is a word used to refer to a group of people, animals, or things as a single entity. Even though a collective noun represents multiple individuals, it is treated as a singular noun. For example, team, flock, herd, school, and family.

Collective Noun Explanation

A collective noun groups multiple items, animals, or people together, treating them as one whole unit. For example, instead of saying “a group of students,” we can simply say “a class of students,” where “class” is the collective noun.

Collective Noun and Example in Sentences

To understand how to use collective nouns in sentences, here are some examples:

1. The team celebrated their victory after the match.
2. A flock of geese flew over the lake at sunset.
3. The herd of elephants moved slowly across the plains.
4. The committee decided to approve the new policy.
5. We saw a school of fish swimming near the shore.

Collective Noun List

Collective Nouns for People

• Army: a group of soldiers
• Band: a group of musicians
• Class: a group of students
• Committee: a group of people appointed for a specific function
• Crew: a group of people working on a ship or aircraft
• Family: a group of related individuals
• Flock: a group of sheep
• Gang: a group of criminals or a group of friends
• Group: a general term for any collection of people
• Team: a group of players forming one side in a competitive game

Collective Nouns for Animals

• Army: a group of ants
• Band: a group of gorillas
• Bale: a group of turtles
• Bevy: a group of quails or swans
• Cast: a group of falcons
• Clowder: a group of cats
• Colony: a group of bats or penguins
• Gaze: a group of raccoons
• Herd: a group of cattle, elephants, or deer
• Murder: a group of crows
• Pack: a group of wolves or dogs
• Pod: a group of dolphins or whales
• School: a group of fish
• Swarm: a group of bees

The collective noun for raccoons is a gaze. Example: A gaze of raccoons was spotted near the campsite.

Collective Nouns for Things

• Batch: a group of items produced at one time
• Bouquet: a group of flowers
• Fleet: a group of ships or vehicles
• Library: a collection of books
• Set: a group of items designed to be used together
• Stack: a group of items piled on top of one another
• Troop: a group of scouts or soldiers

Collective Nouns for Abstract Concepts

• Group: a collection of people or things considered as a unit
• Team: a group of individuals working together toward a common goal
• Crowd: a large group of people gathered together
• Flock: a group of people sharing the same faith or beliefs

Other Unique Collective Nouns

• Drive: a group of pigs
• Huddle: a group of penguins
• Leash: a group of hounds
• Parliament: a group of owls
• Quiver: a group of cobras
• Skulk: a group of foxes
• Skein: a group of geese (in flight)

Collective Noun and Example | Exercise

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks with the correct collective noun.

1. A ____ of sheep was grazing in the field.
2. The ____ of musicians played beautifully during the concert.
3. She saw a ____ of ants near the picnic basket.
4. A flock of whales was seen migrating south.
5. The ____ of judges declared the winner.

Answer: 

1. A flock of sheep was grazing in the field.
2. The band of musicians played beautifully during the concert.
3. She saw a swarm of ants near the picnic basket.
4. A pod of whales was seen migrating south.
5. The panel of judges declared the winner.

Exercise 2: Match the collective noun with the correct group.

• A swarm of →
• A pack of →
• A team of →
• A band of →
• A flock of →

Answers: bees, wolves, players, musicians, birds

Collective Nouns and Examples | Worksheet

Question 1: Fill in the blanks:

1. A ____ of birds flew across the sky.
2. The ____ of soldiers marched in perfect formation.
3. We spotted a ____ of deer in the forest.
4. A ____ of bees was buzzing around the flowers.
5. The ____ of actors received a standing ovation.

Question 2: Select the correct collective noun to complete each sentence.

1. A _____ of lions is called a:
   1. Pack
   2. Pride
   3. Flock
2. A ____ of fish swimming together is known as a:
   1. School
   2. Pod
   3. Swarm
3. The group of musicians is referred to as:
   1. Choir
   2. Band
   3. Committee

Question 3: Determine if the following statements are true or false.

1. A murder of crows is a correct collective noun.
2. A flock of geese is referred to as a swarm.
3. A school of fish can also be called a pod.

Question 4: Identify the collective noun in each sentence.

1. The gaze of raccoons rummaged through the trash.
2. A family of penguins huddled together for warmth.
3. The pack of wolves howled at the moon.

Question 5: Write a sentence using the collective noun team.

Question 6: Write a sentence using the collective noun swarm.

Question 7: Write a sentence using the collective noun class.

Question 8: List three collective nouns for each of the following categories:

• People:
• Animals:
• Things:

Question 9: Fill in the table with the correct collective nouns for each group.

Question 10: Rewrite the following sentences by replacing the common noun with the appropriate collective noun.

1. The group of friends went out for dinner.
2. The group of lions rested under the tree.
3. The group of dancers performed beautifully.

Also Read:

• What is Proper Noun with Examples, Exercise, and Activity Sheet
• What is Common Noun Examples, Sample, and Worksheet
• Common and Proper Nouns: Difference With Examples