Collective Nouns

Activity 1

Ask learners to think of some nouns and make them singular and plural. Then, ask if they can think of any nouns which you cannot make plural. Show them the examples in the next slide and see if they can guess the words. 

Activity 2

Ask the learners to look at the table of collective nouns and organise them into two categories. Use the 'hint' button to help if your learners are stuck.

Solution: some nouns refer to groups of people and the others to animals. 

Activity 3

Ask the learners to look at the table of nouns which always appear in the plural form. Ask them if it's possible to make a sentence using them in the singular (it shouldn't be!). 

Use the 'hint' button to help if your learners are stuck.

Ask the learners to organise them according to what they are used for.

Solution: some nouns refer to items you wear and others tools which you use.

Learners can debate whether spectacles and glasses can count as both! 

Activity 4

Ask the learners to read the seven sentences and discuss what collective noun could fill each gap. Click the 'hint' button to reveal some possible solutions and ask learners to match them to the most appropriate sentence. Accept any logical answers. 

This lesson is adapted (with permission) from Words and Meanings: A Systematic Guide for the Teaching of English Vocabulary, by Gabriele Stein.

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