Collective Nouns Vs Plural Nouns: What is the Difference?

Are you wondering what the difference is between collective nouns vs plural nouns?

Collective nouns and plural nouns are types of common nouns used to describe more than one person, place, object, or thing. However, collective nouns are considered singular nouns. Whereas plural nouns, as the name suggests, are plural and require plural verbs in the sentence.

In this article, you will learn collective vs plural nouns, the difference between them,  and how to use them in a sentence. You will also find some helpful examples of collective and plural nouns used in sentences to help you understand how they work and what rules to follow.

Collective Nouns vs Plural Nouns

Collective nouns and plural nouns are easy to distinguish by learning their definition. A collective noun is a noun that denotes one group as one unit, irrespective of its individual members. A plural noun is a noun that describes more than one thing from the same group.

Merriam-webster dictionary defines the collective noun as:

“a noun such as “team” or “flock” that refers to a group of people or things.”

Collective Noun vs Plural Noun: The Difference 

First, collective and plural nouns are both common nouns in English. Second, all nouns can be categorized into two broad categories: singular and plural nouns. So, what is the difference between collective vs plural nouns? 

Let’s explore the difference with the help of examples!

Collective nouns are singular nouns because they represent a whole group as one unit or entity. Consider the following examples to understand better!

• A herd of deer is grazing the grass.
• A school of fish is swimming in the pond.
• A bunch of pencils is lying on the table.

On the other hand, a plural noun represents more than one person, place, object, or animal from the same group. Take a look at the following examples:

• Two men are debating in the final round.
• Two cats are sitting on the deck.
• Five birds are flying together.

A collective noun is treated as a plural noun if it describes individual members of the group instead of the whole group as a single unit.

• Members of the jury cast their votes.

Collective nouns are singular and require a singular verb in the sentence.

• The audience is interested in the content of his speech.
• Two men in the audience are shouting slogans.

Plural nouns are always considered plural because they represent more than one thing, person, place, object, or idea. Therefore, we must use plural verbs with plural nouns to satisfy the subject-verb agreement of English grammar.

Collective Nouns vs Plural Nouns Examples

Now, let’s take a look at collective nouns vs plural nouns examples

Examples of Collective Nouns

• Army
• Audience
• Family
• Crew
• Pride
• Litter
• Boquite

Examples of Plural Nouns

• Men
• Women
• Boys
• Girls
• Two apples
• Three cats
• Five rings
• Two computers

Collective Nouns vs Plural Nouns – Examples of Sentences

Example Sentences Using Collective Nouns

• A group of lions is roaming around in the savannah.
• The audience was keen to listen to his thoughts on education.
• My family loves to go on vacations.
• A crow was gathering in front of the management office to protest.
• A flock of turkeys is crossing the road. 
• A herd of deer is standing on the road.

Example Sentences Using  Plural Nouns

• Men are qualifying for the final game.
• The boys are playing soccer. 
• Girls are excelling in the education field.
• Two cats are sitting on the porch.

FAQs: Collective Nouns Vs Plural Nouns

What is a collective noun in English grammar?

A collective noun represents a group as a single unit. A group could consist of animals, plants, birds, humans, places, things, or objects. 

What is a plural noun in English grammar?

In English, a plural noun is a noun used to represent more than one person, animal, objects, places, or things—for example, men, women, boys, girls, teens, etc.

You can also use numbers to represent plural nouns in English, for example, two apples, three apples, two cats, five cats, five people, ten people

What is the difference between collective nouns vs plural nouns?

The difference between a collective noun and a plural noun is that a collective noun is a noun of one group in which different individuals are represented as one group, unit, or entity, like an army, flock, herd, etc.

On the other hand, plural nouns represent more than one noun from the same group and individuals, like two cats, two dogs, three apples, and four trees.

Are collective nouns plural nouns?

Collective nouns are singular and used as singular nouns in sentences to match singular verbs. For example, family, crowd, school of fish, etc., are collective nouns.

However, suppose a collective noun represents individual members of a group. In that case, it will be treated as a plural noun—for example, my family members, members of the crowd, fish, etc.

What is the main difference between collective nouns and plural nouns?

Answer: The main difference is that collective nouns refer to a group of individuals or things as a single entity (e.g., “team,” “family”), while plural nouns refer to more than one person, place, thing, or idea (e.g., “books,” “dogs”). Collective nouns are usually singular, whereas plural nouns are always plural.

Can collective nouns be used with plural verbs?

Answer: Yes, collective nouns can be used with plural verbs when the emphasis is on the individual members within the group rather than the group as a whole. For example, in British English, it’s common to say, “The team are arguing among themselves.”

What are some common examples of collective nouns?

Answer: Some common examples of collective nouns include “team,” “family,” “herd,” “class,” “jury,” and “committee.” These nouns refer to a group acting as one unit.

How do you form plural nouns?

Answer: Plural nouns are generally formed by adding “s” to the singular form (e.g., “cat” becomes “cats”). For nouns ending in “s,” “sh,” “ch,” “x,” or “z,” you add “es” (e.g., “bus” becomes “buses”). Some nouns have irregular plural forms, such as “child” becoming “children” and “mouse” becoming “mice.”

Are collective nouns always singular?

Answer: While collective nouns are usually singular because they refer to a group as one entity, they can be treated as plural in some contexts, especially in British English. The context determines whether they take a singular or plural verb.

How can I avoid confusing collective nouns with plural nouns?

Answer: To avoid confusion, remember that collective nouns refer to a group as a single unit and usually take a singular verb, while plural nouns refer to multiple items and always take a plural verb. If you’re unsure, consider whether you’re talking about one group or multiple individuals.

Why do collective nouns sometimes take different verb forms in American and British English?

Answer: The difference is due to regional variations in grammar usage. In American English, collective nouns are typically treated as singular and take a singular verb (e.g., “The team is winning”), whereas in British English, they can be treated as plural if the focus is on the individuals within the group (e.g., “The team are winning”).

Can a word be both a collective noun and a plural noun?

Answer: A word is generally classified as either a collective noun or a plural noun, not both. However, some words can change meaning based on context. For example, “staff” can be a collective noun when referring to a group of employees, but “staffs” can be a plural noun when referring to multiple staffs (sticks or rods).

What are some common mistakes people make with collective and plural nouns?

Answer: Common mistakes include using the wrong verb form with collective nouns (e.g., “The team are winning” in American English) and confusing the singular form of collective nouns with plural nouns (e.g., “The jury delivers their verdict” instead of “its verdict”).

How can I practice using collective and plural nouns correctly?

Answer: You can practice by writing sentences that use both collective and plural nouns, paying attention to verb agreement. Reading well-written articles and books can also help reinforce correct usage. Additionally, try completing exercises or quizzes focused on noun types to improve your understanding.

Collective Nouns vs Plural Nouns – Final Thoughts

The difference between collective nouns vs plural nouns is that plural nouns are plural and can be counted by numbers, whereas collective nouns are considered singular. Collective nouns require a singular verb in the sentence, whereas plural nouns require a plural verb.

Collective nouns describe things, persons, objects, or animals as one group, unit, or entity. On the other hand, plural nouns describe more than one thing in a group.

I hope this article helped you understand the difference between collective nouns vs plural nouns, their examples, and sentences so that you can use them correctly.

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