Collective nouns are used with a verb in the singular or in the plural according to the sense. Such nouns are the following:
| staff | /stɑːf/ |
| council | /ˈkaʊns(ə)l/ |
| family | /ˈfamɪli/ |
| class | /klɑːs/ |
| public | /ˈpʌblɪk/ |
| army | /ˈɑːmi/ |
| navy | /ˈneɪvi/ |
| government | /ˈɡʌv(ə)nˌm(ə)nt/ |
| crew | /krəʊ/ |
Collective nouns
The are refer to things or people as a group – class, family, crew or team.
| A bloat of hippopotamuses | A flight of stairs |
| A chest of drawers | A hive of bees |
| A herd of elephants | A cackle of hyenas |
| A school of fish | A gaggle of geese |
| A convoy of tanks | A range of mountains |
| A colony of ants | A nest of birds | A board of directors | A gang of thieves |
| A flock of birds | An orchestra of musicians |
| A circle of friends | A parliament of owls |
| A class of students | A swarm of locusts |
| A fleet of ships | A pride of lions |
| A murder of crows | A mob of kangaroos |
| A bunch of bananas | A litter of kittens |
