"Many noncount nouns have an equivalent countable expression using such words as piece or bit (partitive or collective nouns) followed by of: "Venereal noun: A noun denoting a collection of persons or things regarded as a unit, defining them through word play...". In American English, collective nouns usually take singular verb forms. Here is most important 100 examples of collective nouns; 1.a heap of rubbish In the following examples, the collective noun or nouns are listed in italics. Treat a collective noun as singular unless the context highlights the individuals in the group. In the infographic below, the collective nouns are shown in yellow. A collective noun, as mentioned above, is a special class of nouns that name groups composed of members. 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. Overlook Press, 2008). But there are some specific names given for certain groups of nouns to make things more interesting and funny. Collective nouns can be replaced by both singular and plural pronouns, depending on their meaning. For example, "family" is a collective noun because it refers to more than one person sharing a relationship. ThoughtCo uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. A collective noun is a noun—such as team, committee, jury, squad, orchestra, crowd, audience, and family—that refers to a group of individuals. Straight talking and methodical, "Smashing Grammar" (Our Grammar Book, 2019), I have played some of my best tennis away from home, but it can be tough when the. A collective noun refers to a group of people, animals or a collection of things taken as a whole. Collective noun is the name we give to a group of nouns to refer to them as one entity. Once you've decided whether your collective noun is singular or plural, be consistent throughout your sentence. The notion of collective nouns dates back centuries. There are lots of collective nouns. A collective noun is the word used to represent a group of people, animals, or things. Using the "wrong" collective noun could be a useful creative-writing technique. A collective noun is a noun—such as team, committee, jury, squad, orchestra, crowd, audience, and family—that refers to a group of individuals. The most common method of doing this is by using words like group or bunch that can be applicable to most of the nouns in the language today. are examples of collective nouns. Nouns such as team, group, herd, flock, jury, gang, choir, class, etc. It is also known as a group noun. Examples of Collective Nouns Here are some examples of collective nouns: Collective nouns are words for single things that are made up of more than one person, animal, place, thing, or idea. You can’t have a team without individual members; even so, we discuss a … A collective noun is a type of noun that identifies groups of people and things. It is also known as a group noun. Do you disagree with something on this page. However, you can also use this in its plural form to refer to several "families." By using ThoughtCo, you accept our, Understanding the Types of Nouns in English Grammar, Definition and Examples of Pronoun Agreement, Definition and Examples of Agreement in English Grammar, When to Use a Singular or Plural Verb in Spanish. Collective nouns are words for single things that are made up of more than one person, place, animal, thing, or idea. Collective Nouns Are Singular But Often With Plural Meaning, Nobody, No One, and None: How to Choose the Right Word, Ph.D., Rhetoric and English, University of Georgia, M.A., Modern English and American Literature, University of Leicester, B.A., English, State University of New York. Willam Cobbet noted in 1818: Collective nouns can also add humor to any written piece. What Is the Subject-Verb Agreement in English Grammar? How Does Concord Apply to English Grammar? Download Grammarly's app to help with eliminating grammar errors and finding the right words. If you're uncomfortable treating a collective noun as singular or plural, put a term like. (David Crystal, "By Hook or by Crook: A Journey in Search of English." In American English, collective nouns usually take singular verb forms. Vocational rather than academic, "Grammar for Grown-ups" is packed with real-life examples and keeps you engaged with a wealth of great quotations from Homer the Greek to Homer the Simpson. englishstudyhere 2 years ago 1 Comment Collective nouns are names for a collection or a number of people or things.