UKUK USUSIndiaIndia

Teaching by Asking!

Parents Students Tutors Teachers Safe Ai Knowledge Bank Survey Results Blog
Join Us
UKUK USUSIndiaIndia
Join Us
KS1 (Age 5-7)KS2 (Age 7-11)11 Plus (Age 7-11)KS3 (Age 11-14)GCSE (Age 14-17)PSHEA.I.ESLSpanishSpecialistGames
Lucy
Ask the AI Tutor
Need help with Nouns (Collective) 01? Ask our AI Tutor!
Lucy AI Tutor - Lucy
Connecting with Tutor...
Please wait while we establish connection
Lucy
Hi! I'm Lucy, your AI tutor. How can I help you with Nouns (Collective) 01 today?
now
0/50 words
  1. Home
  2. KS3
  3. English
  4. Nouns (Collective) 01
Nouns (Collective) 01
When you write about 'A shoal of fish' the word 'shoal' is a collective noun.

Nouns (Collective) 01

Collective nouns name groups of people, animals, or things. In this KS3 English quiz, learn common groups and choose verbs that agree with them.

Explore the Topic →
(quiz starts below)

Fascinating Fact:

Pack often names hunting animals or dogs, a pack of eight sled dogs can pull more than 100 kilograms.

In KS3 English, you’ll study collective nouns, words that describe groups, like pack, team, or flock. In British English, these can take a singular verb when the group is acting as one (The team is winning) or a plural verb when focusing on individuals (The team are arguing). Choose the verb form that matches the meaning.

Key Terms

  • Collective noun: A noun that names a group acting as one unit (e.g., pack, class, crowd).
  • Verb agreement: Matching the verb (singular/plural) to what the subject means in the sentence.
  • Noun phrase: A group of words built round a noun, e.g., a pack of wolves.

Frequently Asked Questions (Click to see answers)

What is a collective noun with examples?

A collective noun names a group, such as a pack of dogs, a team of players, a flock of birds, or a herd of cattle.

Do collective nouns take singular or plural verbs in British English?

Both are possible. Use singular for a group acting as one (The class is quiet) and plural for individuals within the group (The class are chatting).

What are common collective nouns for animals?

Examples include pack (wolves/dogs), flock (sheep/birds), herd (cattle), swarm (bees), and school (fish).

Try These Related Quizzes

1 .
Find the correct collective noun for the following.
A ....... of sheep.
flock
herd
pen
stable
"A flock of sheep" is a collective noun phrase
2 .
Find the correct collective noun for the following.
A ....... of geese.
gaggle
goggle
hiss
quack
"Gaggle" is the collective noun
3 .
Find the correct collective noun for the following.
An ....... of ants.
army
cluster
hive
navy
The collective noun here is "army"
4 .
Find the correct collective noun for the following.
A ....... of fish.
net
form
sea
shoal
A "school" of fish would also be a collective noun phrase
5 .
Find the correct collective noun for the following.
A ....... of penguins.
colony
flock
herd
school
The collective noun, e.g. "flock", is always singular. In a sentence, it takes a verb with a third-person singular conjugation, i.e. The flock of geese is flying south
6 .
Find the correct collective noun for the following.
A ....... of flies.
buzz
flock
hive
swarm
Although made up of many flies, the "swarm" itself is singular
7 .
Find the correct collective noun for the following.
A ....... of elephants.
flock
group
herd
school
"Herd" is also used for cows
8 .
Find the correct collective noun for the following.
A ....... of bees.
army
hive
navy
nest
A "swarm" of bees could also be used as a collective noun phrase
9 .
Find the correct collective noun for the following.
A ....... of birds.
aviary
colony
flock
nest
Although "flock" and "colony" are singular, the concrete nouns "birds" and "penguins" are plural
10 .
Find the correct collective noun for the following.
A ....... of porpoises.
army
pod
sea
shoal
"Pod" is the collective noun here
You can find more about this topic by visiting BBC Bitesize - What is a noun?

Author:  Sue Daish (English Teacher, Principal Examiner & Published Author)
English Play this quiz again

Contact Details

Education Quizzes

Heron's Way, Wragg Marsh
Spalding
Lincolnshire
PE12 6HH
England

Email

admin@educationquizzes.com

Customer Service

Home Page Parents Students Tutors Teachers
Colour Filters Safe AI
Your Account

Here To Help

Contact Us Quiz List and Sitemap FAQs Links and Resources Blog

About Us

Our Team Testimonials Parent Reviews Terms and Conditions Privacy Policy

© Copyright 2016-2025 - Education Quizzes
Work Innovate Ltd - Design | Development | Marketing

We use cookies to enhance your experience on our website.

To comply with the e-Privacy directive, we need your consent - I agree - No thanks - Learn more