Collective noun is the
name we give to a group of nouns to refer to them as one entity. 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. But there are some
specific names given for certain groups of nouns to make things more interesting
and funny.
Now, these collective
nouns are not based in scientific thought or fact. Most of them come from the
poetry and imagination of early to late Medieval English times e.g. - an
eloquence of lawyers – Eloquence itself is defined as fine persuasion in
speaking or writing, so this particular collective noun is a comment on the
profession of lawyers while being their collective noun as well.
The same goes for the
collective nouns we find for animals; the names arose from 15thcentury
French and English hunting traditions, where hunting was common and names and
terms were given to all aspects of the sport. These names were called Terms of
Venery and it had become a tradition of the court to keep extending the list
and by the 1500s the list was up-to 165 items long.
Here we have listed
some of the more commonly used collective nouns for humans, animals and
objects.
These collective nouns
are commonly used under the category of people.
1. A class of students.
2. An army of soldiers.
3. A choir of singers.
4. A crew of sailors.
5. A band of musicians.
6. A bunch of crooks.
7. A crowd of people/spectators.
8. A gang of thieves.
9. A group of dancers.
10. A team of players.
11. A troupe of
artists/dancers.
12. A pack of thieves.
13. A staff of employees.
14. A regiment of
soldiers.
15. A tribe of natives.
16. An audience of
listeners.
17. A panel of experts.
18. A gang of labourers.
19. A flock of tourists.
20. A board of directors.
The following
collective nouns are used for animals.
1. A catch of fish.
2. An army of ants.
3. A flight of birds.
4. A flock of birds.
5. A haul of fish.
6. A flock of sheep.
7. A herd of
deer/cattle/elephants/goats/buffaloes.
8. A hive of bees.
9. A litter of cubs.
10. A host of sparrows.
11. A team of horses.
12. A troop of lions.
13. A zoo of wild animals.
14. A pack of wolves.
15. A litter of
puppies/kittens.
16. A swarm of
bees/ants/rats/flies.
17. A team of horses/ducks/oxen.
18. A murder of crows.
19. A kennel of dogs.
20. A pack of hounds.
The following
collective nouns are used for things.
1. A group of islands.
2. A galaxy of stars.
3. A wad of notes.
4. A forest of trees.
5. A stack of wood.
6. A fleet of ships.
7. A string of pearls.
8. An album of stamps/autographs/photographs.
9. A hedge of bushes.
10. A library of books.
11. A basket of fruit.
12. A bowl of rice.
13. A pack of cards.
14. A pair of shoes.
15. A bouquet of flowers.
16. A bunch of keys.
17. A chest of drawers.
18. A pack of lies.
19. A range of mountains.
20. A cloud of dust.
Collective nouns are
endless and these are just a list of those used more often. As you continue to
work on improving your English, you will stumble across many more. Be sure to
add them to your list and use them as frequently as you can.
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