Collective Nouns

Comparing Countable, Mass and Collective Nouns

Confused about the differences between these types of nouns?

Countable nouns are nouns that can be counted, modified by a number or quantified with size, amount, or value related words, and can appear in both singular and plural form.
Mass nouns, also referred to as non-count nouns, signify unbounded amounts, such as liquid, small objects, and abstract or immeasurable concepts. For example, "water," "rice," and "education" can all be considered mass nouns. A noun is considered a mass noun when its use cannot be counted, modified or quantified in a relevant and logical manner linguistically.
Collective nouns are considered a subset of count nouns because they refer to a group of countable nouns as a unit. For example, there are 12 eggs in dozen, and there are 52 cards in a deck.

Common Collective Nouns

There are many types of nouns that refer to units or groups in a collective sense. Some of the most common include:

Army
Array
Audience
Band
Bevy
Board
Bunch
Cabinet
Cast
Choir/Chorus
Class
Cloud
Committee
Company
Congregation
Corporation
Council
Crowd
Department
Faculty
Family
Firm
Gang
Group
Jury
Majority
Minority
Navy
Party
Plethora
Public
School
Senate
Society
Staff
Team
Troupe

Common collective animal nouns include:

Brood
Colony
Clutch
Drove
Flight
Flock
Gaggle
Herd
Hive
Litter
Nest
Pack
Plague
Pride
Skein
Swarm
Team
Tribe
Troop
Yoke

Using Collective Nouns Correctly

Nouns in the collective class can be used in either the singular or plural form depending on the context of the sentence. For example, family is a collective noun because it refers to more than one person sharing a relationship or camaraderie. However, you can also use this as a plural in referring to groups of families.

Using collective nouns in sentences can be confusing because it's sometimes difficult to discern whether to use plural or singular verbs and pronouns. To use verbs and pronouns correctly, identify whether the collective noun refers to a group or unit working as individuals or in unison.

When the unit is acting in unison, it is appropriate to use the singular.
When the members of the unit are acting as individuals, it is appropriate to use plural forms of verbs and pronouns.

For example:

The class waits [singular verb] for its [singular pronoun] teacher quietly. (The class is referred to as a unit acting in unison. The students are all doing the same thing at the same time.)
The class begin [plural verb] their [plural pronoun] homework assignments while they [plural pronoun] wait [plural verb] for their [plural pronoun] teacher. (The students are a unit, but are acting as individuals -- they each doing their own homework assignments.)

When group nouns signify units acting as individuals rather than in unison, it is also appropriate to add or replace words to create reference to the individuals – for example, adding the word "members" after collectives like board or committee, or inserting "players" for "team" or "students" for "class."

Fun with Nouns

Many singular nouns have very unique collective forms that pertain specifically to that term. While most people are familiar with the more commonly used collectives such as a class of students or crowd of people, there are a large number of less common collectives. Many people find it interesting to read and learn what the appropriate collective forms of various nouns are. Many teachers, students, and other lovers of the English language also find it entertaining to list original collectives or come up with new ways to use them in fun or ironic ways.

History of Collective Types of Nouns

Like most linguistic developments, collective nouns have developed through time as a result of many different situations.

For example, venery nouns, those nouns used to specifically signify groups of animals, developed as a result of fifteenth century English hunting practices.

Experienced hunters were educated in discussing groups of animals in specific collective ways, sometimes in reference to the animal's activities or habits.
Uses of these phrases were also distinguished upper-class gentry from middle class agricultural workers.

Other collective nouns are called derivational collectives -- derived as a result of language relationships and maintaining root word tendencies.

Gradual shifts in the ways that words are used and understood have also contributed to the formation of this special class of nouns.

Teacher and Student Resources

There are a variety of online and printable worksheets, quizzes, and activities focused on collective and mass nouns. These include:

These links will be helpful resources for teachers and students.