A collective noun is different from a plural noun. A plural noun is more than one singular noun. One puppy. Two puppies.
A collective noun is a word that names a group of something. The group is considered to be a single item, but that group has many pieces inside. The word litter is a collective noun. A litter of puppies is a group of puppies all born to the same mother. The noun litter is one thing – a singular noun – but a litter has many parts to it. We can talk about a litter of kittens or a litter of puppies or a litter of pigs.
Here are some more collective nouns: group, choir, band, team, class, family, crew, herd, flock, posse, squad
Each of these nouns is used as a single thing – but each of these nouns has multiple units within the group.
We always use a singular verb with these collective nouns. We write as if the noun is only one thing. Look at these sentences:
The children are walking. The noun children is plural, so we use the plural verb are walking.
The group of children is walking. The noun group is a singular collective noun. We use the singular verb is walking with the collective noun group.
The puppies are noisy.
The litter of puppies is noisy.
The cows are stampeding.
The herd of cows is stampeding.
A collective noun names a group of things but acts as a singular noun.
▶It’s your turn. Find the collective noun in this sentence. The marching band has a concert tonight. That wasn’t too hard, was it?