UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL DE CHIMBORAZO

FACULTAD DE CIENCIAS DE LA EDUCACIÓN, HUMANAS Y TECNOLOGÍASCARRERA DE IDIOMAS

        

GRAMMAR V 

COLLECTIVE NOUNS  

INTEGRANTS:RONALD MARROQUÍN

PATRICIA VINUEZA  

2015

COLLETIVE NOUNS

 A collective noun is a noun that can be singular in form whilst

referring to a group of people or things.

Groups of

people

Groups of

animals

Groups of

things

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?

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

Audiencespectators 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

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)

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

crowd

swarm

audience crew

gang

mob

flock

I had so much fun in Hawaii swimming with a _________ of fish.     A. school B. bevy C. army

Choose the correct answer.

A ______ of cows was transported to a farm in Texas for slaughter. 

A. pack B. herd/ drove C. pod

On my African trip, I saw a ________ of lions.

A. pride B. pack C. bundle

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