This document discusses collective nouns, which are nouns that can be singular or plural depending on whether the group is acting as a unit or as individuals. It provides examples of collective nouns for groups of people like "class" or "staff" and groups of animals like "flock" or "pack". The document contains exercises to test understanding of when to use singular or plural verbs with collective nouns and to identify the correct collective noun for different groups.

1. UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL DE
CHIMBORAZOFACULTAD DE CIENCIAS DE LA EDUCACIÓN, HUMANAS Y TECNOLOGÍAS
CARRERA DE IDIOMAS
GRAMMAR V
COLLECTIVE NOUNS
INTEGRANTS:
RONALD MARROQUÍN
PATRICIA VINUEZA
2015

2. COLLETIVE NOUNS
A collective noun is a noun that can be singular in form whilst referring to a
group of people or things.

3. Groups of
people
Groups of
animals
Groups of
things

4.  When the unit is acting in unison, it is appropriate to use the singular.
Ex. The class waits for its teacher quietly.
 When the members of the unit are acting as individuals, to use the plural.
Ex. The class begin their homework assignments while they wait for their
teacher
Plural or singular?

5. Army: an organized military force equipped for fighting on land.
Crew: all the working members on a ship or plane.
Staff: the people who work in a company or place of work.
Team: a group of individuals playing on the same side generally with the same
objectives.
Gang: an organized group of criminals.
Groups of people working together

6. Audience
spectators or listeners at a public event.
Crowd: a group of people, gathered together.
Mob: a large disorderly crowd.
Movement: a group of people with similar political/musical/social
ideals.
Groups Groups of people in generalof people in
general

7. Groups of animals
Flock: a flock of sheep, a flock of birds
Litter: a litter of kittens (usually of baby
animals)
Pack: a pack of wolves, a pack of dogs
Shoal / School: a shoal of fish, a school of fish
Swarm: a swarm of bees (swarm is used for a
group of flying insects)

8. 1. Some spectators in the disagreed with the referee's decision.
2. She was attacked by a of wasps.
3. The applauded the new play enthusiastically.
4. That cruise ship carries 150 passengers and a of 85.
5. He was the leader of a well-known of criminals.
6. A of shouting people overturned cars and set the fire to shops
7. In spring of birds arrive back in Britain.
EXERCISE
crow
d
swarm
audience
crew
gang
mob
flock

9. I had so much fun in Hawaii swimming with a _________ of
fish.
 A. school
 B. bevy
 C. army
Choose the correct answer.

10. A ______ of cows was transported to a farm in Texas for slaughter.
 A. pack
 B. herd/ drove
 C. pod

11. On my African trip, I saw a ________ of lions.
 A. pride
 B. pack
 C. bundle

12. The boy saw a _______ of sheep grazing in the fields.
 A. flock
 B. swarm
 C. bevy