Collective Nouns Definition and Exercise

What Is a Collective Noun?

Collective nouns are special words used to refer to groups of people, animals, or things as a single unit. They help us communicate more effectively and concisely by allowing us to refer to a whole group with a single term. For example, instead of saying “a group of birds,” we can simply say “a flock.” In this article, we will explore various collective nouns, their meanings, and provide examples to illustrate their usage. After the discussion, you will have the opportunity to test your knowledge with a quiz consisting of 26 questions related to collective nouns.

What are Collective Nouns?

Collective nouns are nouns that denote a collection of individuals or things. They can refer to people (e.g., a team), animals (e.g., a pack of wolves), or objects (e.g., a bunch of grapes). Here are some common examples of collective nouns:

  • Flock /flɒk/ – Used to describe a group of birds or sheep.
    Example: A flock of geese flew gracefully over the lake.
  • Herd /hɜrd/ – Refers to a collection of large animals, often cattle or elephants.
    Example: The herd of elephants moved steadily through the dense forest.
  • Swarm /swɔrm/ – A dense group of insects, usually bees or similar flying insects.
    Example: A swarm of bees hovered busily around the flowering plants.
  • Crowd /kraʊd/ – Describes a large group of people in close proximity.
    Example: The crowd cheered enthusiastically as the parade passed by.
  • Fleet /fliːt/ – Commonly used for a group of ships or vehicles.
    Example: The navy organized its fleet for a series of training operations.

Quiz on Collective Nouns

Now that you have a basic understanding of collective nouns, let’s put your knowledge to the test! Below is a quiz with 26 questions related to collective nouns. Choose the correct answer from the options provided.

Ласкаво просимо до COLLECTIVE NOUNS

The ______ of the British Royal Navy was very strong in the nineteenth century.

Disease reduced the farmer’s ______ from 90 to 65 cows.

She was attacked by a ______ of wasps.

A ______ of shouting people overturned cars, set fire to shops and attacked a police station.

The Irish Prime Minister occupied a ______ of rooms at the hotel.

Some spectators in the ______ disagreed with the referee’s decision.

He bought a large ______ of bananas.

The priest was very sad to see his ______ getting smaller week by week.

Fishing boats use modern equipment to locate the ______ of fish.

She lost her balance and fell down a ______ of steps.

He was the leader of a well-known ______ of criminals.

We sat down in the shade of a ______ of trees.

In spring ______ of birds arrive back in Europe after spending the winter in Africa.

Our picnic was completely ruined by a ______ of ants.

He gave her a ______ of flowers.

British Airways has a ______ of 26 Boeing 747s.

She gave a ______ of old clothes to a charity organization.

The ______ applauded the new play enthusiastically.

Has anyone seen a ______ of keys? I left them somewhere.

Golf is an expensive game. You’ll need a ______ of clubs.

The books were arranged in a ______ one on top of the other.

They’ve bought a leather three-piece ______ - a sofa and two armchairs.

Let’s play a game. Who’s got a ______ of cards?

The cruise ship carries 150 passengers and a ______ of 85.

The ______ of sheep was controlled by a shepherd and two dogs.

For their wedding I gave them a ______ of cutlery (6 knives, 6 spoons, 6 forks etc.).

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