Plural of Collection: Comprehensive Guide to Collective Nouns and Their Plurals

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2. INTRODUCTION

Purpose and Scope: The English language is rich in collective nouns—those fascinating words that describe groups or collections, such as team, family, or herd. However, understanding how to form and use their plural forms accurately can be surprisingly tricky. This guide focuses on the “plural of collection,” exploring the rules, exceptions, and subtleties of pluralizing collective nouns to help you avoid common errors and achieve precision in your communication.

Importance: Collective nouns appear frequently in both spoken and written English. Whether writing a formal report, having a conversation, or editing texts, choosing the correct plural form is essential for clarity and professionalism. Mastery of these forms also improves your grammatical confidence and accuracy.

Audience: This article is designed for students, ESL/EFL learners, teachers, editors, writers, and anyone keen to avoid pitfalls with collective nouns and their plurals. Even advanced users will find clarifications and insights to refine their usage.

Overview: The article is structured to provide step-by-step explanations, numerous tables, and abundant real-world examples. You will find extensive practice exercises with answers, detailed breakdowns of pluralization rules, and a thorough FAQ to reinforce your understanding.

Table of Contents

3. DEFINITION SECTION

3.1 What is a Collective Noun?

Definition: A collective noun is a noun that refers to a group or collection of people, animals, or things considered as a single entity. For example, the word team refers to a group of players, and herd refers to a group of animals.

Etymology and Origins: The term collective noun comes from the Latin collectivus, meaning “gathered together.” Its use in English grammar dates back to the 16th century.

Examples:

  • team (a group of players)
  • family (a group of related people)
  • herd (a group of animals, e.g., cows)
  • committee (a group of people appointed for a task)
  • audience (a group of spectators)

3.2 Plural of Collection: What Does It Mean?

Explanation: The plural of collection refers to forming the plural versions of collective nouns. For example, the plural of team is teams, and the plural of family is families.

Grammatical Classification: Most collective nouns are countable nouns, since you can have more than one group (e.g., three teams). However, some collective nouns are mass nouns or uncountable, like furniture.

Function in Sentences: Collective nouns can act as the subject or object in a sentence and interact with verbs, pronouns, and quantifiers. Their agreement with verbs and pronouns can change based on whether the noun is considered singular or plural.

Usage Contexts: Collective nouns appear in everyday speech (“The family is eating dinner”), formal writing (“The committee has decided”), academic research, and journalistic reports.

Table 1: Singular vs. Plural Collective Nouns
Singular Collective Noun Example Sentence Plural Collective Noun Example Sentence
team The team is winning. teams The teams are competing.
family This family travels often. families Many families attended the event.
herd A herd is grazing nearby. herds Several herds migrate each year.
committee The committee meets monthly. committees The committees submitted their reports.
audience The audience applauds. audiences Audiences around the world enjoyed the show.

4. STRUCTURAL BREAKDOWN

4.1 General Pluralization Rules for Nouns

Standard Pluralization: Most English nouns form their plural by adding -s or -es:

  • book → books
  • box → boxes

Irregular Plurals: Some nouns change their spelling or form in the plural:

  • child → children
  • man → men
Table 2: Regular vs. Irregular Pluralization Patterns
Singular Regular Plural Irregular Plural Notes
team teams — Regular
family families — Y → -ies
staff staffs staves Irregular/Contextual
child — children Irregular
sheep sheep — Unchanging

4.2 Pluralizing Collective Nouns

Regular Pluralization: Most collective nouns follow standard pluralization rules:

  • team → teams
  • herd → herds

Irregularities and Exceptions: Some collective nouns have irregular forms or remain unchanged:

  • staff → staffs (multiple groups) or staves (for rods/sticks)
  • sheep → sheep
  • police (always plural, never “polices”)

Examples:

  • committee → committees
  • audience → audiences
  • fleet → fleets
  • family → families
  • class → classes
  • staff → staffs/staves
  • police (no singular form)
  • cattle (plural only)
  • fish → fish/fishes (contextual)
  • government → governments

4.3 Agreement with Verbs and Pronouns

Singular vs. Plural Agreement: When a collective noun refers to the group as one unit, use a singular verb/pronoun. When emphasizing individuals, use a plural verb/pronoun.

BrE vs. AmE Differences: British English often uses plural verbs with collective nouns, while American English prefers singular verbs.

Table 3: Subject-Verb Agreement with Collective Nouns
Collective Noun AmE (US) BrE (UK) Notes
team The team is winning. The team are winning. Singular (US), Plural (UK when emphasizing individuals)
family The family has arrived. The family have arrived. Same as above
committee The committee meets weekly. The committee meet weekly. BrE allows plural verb

4.4 Contextual Pluralization

Literal vs. Figurative Use: The meaning of “collection” can determine pluralization. For example, families (different family groups) vs. family (one unit).

Countable vs. Uncountable Use: Some collective nouns are countable (herds), while others are uncountable (furniture). Context determines whether pluralization is possible.

5. TYPES OR CATEGORIES

5.1 Common Collective Nouns

People:

  • team
  • family
  • class
  • staff
  • crew

Animals:

  • herd
  • flock
  • swarm
  • pack
  • school

Objects/Things:

  • bunch
  • collection
  • stack
  • set

5.2 Abstract vs. Concrete Collective Nouns

Abstract: Refer to groups of intangible things or people.

  • audience
  • public
  • government

Concrete: Refer to groups of tangible things.

  • fleet
  • bouquet
  • pile

5.3 Plural-Only Collective Nouns (Pluralia Tantum)

Some collective nouns exist only in plural form (pluralia tantum).

  • cattle
  • police
  • clergy
  • vermin
Table 4: List of Plural-Only Collective Nouns
Noun Meaning Notes
cattle Group of cows/oxen No singular “cattle”
police Law enforcement officers Always plural
clergy Religious leaders Plural in form
vermin Pests Plural, no singular
people Human beings Irregular (see “peoples” for groups)

5.4 Compound Collective Nouns

Hyphenated/Two-Word Nouns: Examples include board of directors, group of friends.

Pluralization Rules: The main noun is pluralized, not the entire phrase:

  • boards of directors (not board of directorses)
  • groups of friends (not group of friend)

6. EXAMPLES SECTION

6.1 Simple Examples – Regular Pluralization

People:

  • One family → Two families
  • A team → Several teams
  • A staff → Many staffs

Animals:

  • A herd of cows → Three herds of cows
  • A flock of birds → Five flocks of birds

Objects:

  • A bunch of keys → Several bunches of keys
  • A stack of books → Two stacks of books

6.2 Irregular and Special Cases

  • One staff → Two staffs/staves (context: staves = sticks, staffs = employee groups)
  • One fish school → Two schools of fish
  • One sheep flock → Several flocks of sheep
  • One government → Many governments
  • One police force → Several police forces
Table 5: Irregular Plurals of Collective Nouns
Singular Plural Notes
staff staffs / staves Contextual
fish fish / fishes Unchanged or -es for species
police police Plural only
cattle cattle Plural only
people peoples Different ethnic/national groups

6.3 Singular vs. Plural in Context

Sentences:

  • The committee is meeting today. (One group as a unit)
  • The committees are meeting today. (Several groups)
  • The audience was thrilled. (One group)
  • The audiences were thrilled. (Multiple groups)

Notes: Pluralization changes the meaning from a single group to several distinct groups.

6.4 Pluralia Tantum in Use

  • The police are investigating. (Correct; never “polices”)
  • Cattle are grazing in the field. (Correct; never “cattles”)
  • The clergy are gathering. (Correct; no singular form)

Contrast with Regular Forms:

  • One police officer → Two police officers
  • One cow → Two cows

6.5 Complex/Advanced Examples

Nested Collections:

  • Groups of families arrived at the reunion.
  • Teams of experts analyzed the data.
  • Stacks of books were donated.
  • Bouquets of flowers were handed out.
Table 6: Nested/Multiple Collective Nouns in Plural
Phrase Meaning
groups of friends Several groups, each containing friends
teams of scientists Multiple teams, each with scientists
herds of cattle More than one herd, each with cattle
bunches of grapes Several bunches, each containing grapes
collections of coins Different sets of coins

6.6 Example Tables

Table 7: 20+ Singular & Plural Collective Nouns (with Example Sentences)
Singular Plural Example Sentence
family families Several families gathered for the festival.
team teams The teams are ready for the tournament.
herd herds Three herds of elephants crossed the river.
flock flocks Many flocks of birds migrate south.
class classes All classes are canceled today.
committee committees The committees made their recommendations.
audience audiences Different audiences responded in various ways.
staff staffs/staves The company has several staffs in different cities.
crew crews The crews finished the repairs on time.
fleet fleets The navy has two fleets in the region.
bunch bunches She bought three bunches of flowers.
pile piles There are piles of laundry to do.
bouquet bouquets Several bouquets were delivered.
stack stacks Stacks of papers covered the desk.
school (of fish) schools Many schools of fish swim in the bay.
pack packs Packs of wolves roam the forest.
set sets She owns several sets of dishes.
collection collections Different collections are on display.
swarm swarms Swarms of bees filled the air.
government governments Different governments have different policies.
public publics Different publics responded to the news.

Table 8: Collective Noun Pluralization Patterns (Regular, Irregular, Unchanging)
Noun Type Singular Plural Example
team Regular team teams Two teams played.
family Regular (y→ies) family families Several families participated.
staff Irregular staff staffs/staves Multiple staffs worked shifts.
sheep Unchanging sheep sheep Many sheep grazed.
police Plural only — police The police are here.
people Irregular person people Many people attended.

7. USAGE RULES

7.1 Standard Pluralization Guidelines

When and How to Add –s/-es: Add -s to most nouns; add -es to nouns ending in -s, -sh, -ch, -x, -z.
Spelling Changes:

  • Nouns ending in consonant + -y: change -y to -ies (e.g., family → families)
  • Nouns ending in -f or -fe: often change to -ves (e.g., staff → staves for sticks)
Table 9: Pluralization Rules with Example Words
Rule Singular Plural
Add -s team teams
Add -es class classes
-y to -ies family families
-f/-fe to -ves staff (stick) staves
Unchanging sheep sheep

7.2 Verb and Pronoun Agreement

  • The team is winning. (Singular group, singular verb)
  • The teams are winning. (Multiple groups, plural verb)
  • The family has its house. (Singular, possessive pronoun its)
  • The families have their houses. (Plural, possessive pronoun their)

7.3 British vs. American English Usage

Comparison and Examples: British English often uses plural verbs with collective nouns, especially when focusing on individuals. American English prefers the singular.

Table 10: BrE vs. AmE Sentence Comparison
Context AmE BrE
The team (as a unit) The team is winning. The team are winning.
The family (as individuals) The family has its meal. The family have their meal.
The government The government is planning changes. The government are planning changes.

7.4 Specific Exceptions and Special Cases

  • Unchanging Collectives: Deer and fish can be singular or plural with no change in form.
  • Nouns with Multiple Plural Forms: Staffs (groups of employees) vs. staves (rods/sticks).
  • Contextual Usage: Fish (collective) vs. fishes (multiple species).

7.5 Pluralization in Compound Collective Nouns

Where to Apply the Plural Marker: In compound phrases, pluralize the main noun:

  • boards of directors (correct)
  • groups of friends (correct)
  • board of directorses (incorrect)

8. COMMON MISTAKES

8.1 Over-Pluralization

Incorrect Forms:

  • polices (incorrect; correct: police)
  • cattles (incorrect; correct: cattle)

Correction with Explanations: Some collective nouns are always plural and do not take an “-s” ending.

8.2 Incorrect Verb Agreement

Examples:

  • The team are winning. (Incorrect in AmE; correct in some BrE contexts)
  • The committee have decided. (Incorrect in AmE; correct in some BrE contexts)

Correction and Rationale: Use singular agreement in AmE unless focusing on individuals.

8.3 Confusion with Compound Nouns

Examples:

  • groups of friend (incorrect; correct: groups of friends)
  • board of directorses (incorrect; correct: boards of directors)

Correction and Explanation: Pluralize the main noun, not the object of the preposition.

8.4 Misplacing the Plural Marker

Examples:

  • groups of people (correct: multiple groups, each with people)
  • group of peoples (correct only if referring to different ethnic or cultural groups)
Table 11: Common Errors and Corrections
Incorrect Correct Explanation
polices police Plural only; never “polices”
cattles cattle Plural only; never “cattles”
groups of friend groups of friends Pluralize “friends,” not “groups”
board of directorses boards of directors Pluralize “board” only
herds of sheeps herds of sheep “Sheep” is unchanging

8.5 Misusing Plural-Only Nouns

Examples:

  • cattles (incorrect; correct: cattle)
  • polices (incorrect; correct: police)

9. PRACTICE EXERCISES

9.1 Fill-in-the-Blank

Choose the correct plural form for the sentences below:

  1. There are several ________ of musicians in the parade. (band)
  2. Two ________ of wolves were sighted. (pack)
  3. All the ________ submitted their reports. (committee)
  4. Many ________ are competing for the prize. (team)
  5. Multiple ________ of sheep grazed together. (flock)
  6. Several ________ of flowers were delivered. (bouquet)
  7. The ________ are patrolling the area. (police)
  8. Many ________ attended the conference. (family)
  9. There were three ________ of ducks on the lake. (flock)
  10. Different ________ are represented in parliament. (government)
  11. The ________ are grazing in the field. (cattle)
  12. Several ________ of keys were lost. (bunch)
  13. All ________ need to be cleaned. (room)
  14. Many ________ of children filled the playground. (group)
  15. Several ________ of books were donated. (stack)

9.2 Correction Exercises

Find and correct the pluralization mistakes:

  1. The cattles are grazing in the field.
  2. Three group of friends came to the party.
  3. All the staffes went home early.
  4. There are many sheeps in the meadow.
  5. Five police is investigating the crime.
  6. The board of directorses met yesterday.
  7. Many class are canceled today.
  8. Several bunch of grapes were picked.
  9. The committee have decided. (AmE)
  10. Ten sets of dishes was broken.

9.3 Identification Exercises

Identify if the collective noun is correctly pluralized and matched with the verb:

  1. The teams are practicing.
  2. The flock of birds is flying south.
  3. The families has arrived.
  4. The police is controlling traffic.
  5. Groups of students are studying.
  6. The class are noisy. (AmE)
  7. The audiences enjoy the show.
  8. The government have made a decision. (AmE)
  9. The herd of sheep are running. (AmE)
  10. The committees meets every week.

9.4 Sentence Construction

Write sentences using the given plural collective nouns:

  1. families
  2. teams
  3. herds
  4. audiences
  5. groups of friends
  6. bouquets
  7. governments
  8. packs
  9. stacks
  10. collections

9.5 Matching Exercises (Table 12)

Match the singular and plural forms:

Table 12: Matching Singular and Plural Forms
Singular Plural
class a. fleets
fleet b. bunches
bouquet c. classes
staff d. groups
group e. bouquets
committee f. staffs
bunch g. families
family h. committees

9.6 Answer Key

Fill-in-the-Blank:

  1. bands
  2. packs
  3. committees
  4. teams
  5. flocks
  6. bouquets
  7. police
  8. families
  9. flocks
  10. governments
  11. cattle
  12. bunches
  13. rooms
  14. groups
  15. stacks

Correction Exercises:

  1. The cattle are grazing in the field.
  2. Three groups of friends came to the party.
  3. All the staffs went home early.
  4. There are many sheep in the meadow.
  5. Five police are investigating the crime.
  6. The boards of directors met yesterday.
  7. Many classes are canceled today.
  8. Several bunches of grapes were picked.
  9. The committee has decided. (AmE)
  10. Ten sets of dishes were broken.

Identification Exercises:

  1. Correct
  2. Correct
  3. Incorrect (“families have”)
  4. Incorrect (“police are”)
  5. Correct
  6. Incorrect (“class is” in AmE)
  7. Correct
  8. Incorrect (“government has” in AmE)
  9. Incorrect (“herd is” in AmE)
  10. Incorrect (“committees meet”)

Sentence Construction:

  1. Many families celebrated together.
  2. The teams are competing for the championship.
  3. Several herds crossed the field.
  4. Audiences around the world loved the performance.
  5. Groups of friends gathered in the park.
  6. She received several bouquets for her birthday.
  7. Different governments responded differently.
  8. Packs of wolves howled at night.
  9. Stacks of papers covered the desk.
  10. The museum displays many collections.

Matching Exercises:

  • class → c. classes
  • fleet → a. fleets
  • bouquet → e. bouquets
  • staff → f. staffs
  • group → d. groups
  • committee → h. committees
  • bunch → b. bunches
  • family → g. families

10. ADVANCED TOPICS

10.1 Double Plural Forms & Semantic Differences

Examples:

  • People: “There are many people at the concert.”
  • Peoples: “The museum displays the art of many peoples.” (meaning distinct ethnic or national groups)

Explanation of Semantic Nuance: People refers to individuals; peoples refers to groups with their own identities.

10.2 Nested and Recursive Collectives

Examples:

  • A fleet of fleets (a group made up of smaller groups of ships)
  • A group of groups (several subgroups forming a larger entity)

Discussion of Complex Agreement: Agreement can become tricky—be consistent with the main noun’s number.

10.3 Collective Nouns in Legal, Scientific, and Technical English

Specialized Usage and Plural Forms:

  • In law: “The Board of Trustees has/have made its/their decision.”
  • In biology: “Populations of species are declining.”
  • In technology: “Clusters of servers are managed remotely.”

10.4 Regional and Dialectal Variation

Pluralization Patterns in World Englishes: Some regional dialects may use plural verbs more frequently with collective nouns.

  • South African English: “The team are playing well.”
  • Indian English: “The staff have arrived.”

10.5 Historical Evolution of Plurals in Collective Nouns

Changes Over Time: Some collective nouns had different plural forms in earlier English (e.g., cattle was once used as a singular mass noun).

Examples from Earlier English:

  • Kine (old plural for cows); now replaced by cattle.
  • Folk (used as a singular collective in Middle English); now folks is also common.

11. FAQ SECTION

  1. What is a collective noun, and how do you make it plural?

    A collective noun names a group of people, animals, or things (e.g., team, herd). To make it plural, usually add -s or -es (team → teams; family → families).
  2. Are all collective nouns countable?

    No. Most are countable (herds, teams), but some are uncountable (furniture, equipment).
  3. Why do some collective nouns only appear in plural form?

    Some words, like cattle and police, represent groups and have no singular; they are inherently plural (pluralia tantum).
  4. How do you know whether to use a singular or plural verb with a collective noun?

    Use a singular verb when referring to the group as a unit. Use a plural verb when emphasizing individuals, especially in British English.
  5. What are the main differences in plural collective noun usage between British and American English?

    British English often uses plural verbs with collective nouns when referring to individuals; American English usually uses singular verbs.
  6. Can a collective noun ever be used with both singular and plural verbs?

    Yes. For example: “The team is winning” (as one unit), “The team are wearing their new uniforms” (focus on individuals; BrE).
  7. Why is “police” always plural? Is “polices” ever correct?

    “Police” refers to a group and is always plural. “Polices” is incorrect as a noun.
  8. How do you pluralize compound collective nouns?

    Pluralize the main noun: “boards of directors,” “groups of friends.”
  9. What is the plural of “staff”? Is it “staffs” or “staves”?

    “Staffs” for multiple groups of employees; “staves” for sticks or rods.
  10. Are there collective nouns that never change in the plural?

    Yes. “Sheep,” “deer,” and “fish” (sometimes) remain unchanged.
  11. How do you use “people” vs. “peoples” correctly?

    “People” means individuals; “peoples” refers to different ethnic or cultural groups.
  12. What are common mistakes learners make with plural collective nouns?

    Adding “-s” to plural-only nouns (e.g., “cattles”), incorrect verb agreement, and misplaced plural markers in compound nouns.

12. CONCLUSION

Summary of Key Points: Collective nouns describe groups and can be pluralized in various ways, following standard or irregular rules. Understanding verb and pronoun agreement, as well as context, is essential for correct usage.

Importance of Mastery: Accurate handling of plural collective nouns ensures clear, professional, and precise communication in both speech and writing—important for academic, business, and everyday contexts.

Encouragement for Practice: Review the tables, study the examples, and complete the exercises regularly for best results.

Further Resources:

  • English grammar textbooks (e.g., Swan’s Practical English Usage)
  • Online grammar sites (e.g., Oxford Learner’s Dictionaries, Cambridge Grammar)
  • English language forums and practice platforms

Keep practicing, and soon you’ll feel confident using the plural forms of collective nouns in any context!

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