Collective Nouns: Complete Notes for BCECE LE English
BCECE LE Technical English exam with this comprehensive guide to Collective Nouns. Learn definitions, rules, common mistakes, and practice questions for guaranteed marks.
BCECE LE Technical English
BCECE LE (Bihar Combined Entrance Competitive Examination – Lateral Entry) is an entrance exam conducted for diploma holders who want to take admission directly into the second year of B.Tech programs in Bihar colleges.
The Technical English section is an important part of this exam. It checks your:
Basic grammar
Vocabulary
Sentence improvement
Comprehension
Usage of English in engineering communication
Every year, questions from Collective Nouns, Synonyms, Antonyms, One-word substitutions, Articles, Prepositions, Tenses appear repeatedly.
Among these, Collective Nouns is one of the most predictable topics — you always get 4–5 marks from just this chapter.
That’s why understanding Collective Nouns deeply is necessary for scoring p marks.
What is a Collective Noun? (Simple Definition)
A collective noun is a word that refers to a group of people, animals, things, or places as a single unit.
Example:
A herd of cows
A team of players
A bundle of sticks
A fleet of ships
Here, herd, team, bundle, fleet are collective nouns.
They help us express a group as one unit instead of listing each item individually.
Why Collective Nouns Are Important for BCECE LE
Collective nouns seem simple, but they directly appear in:
✔ MCQs
✔ Fill-in-the-blanks
✔ Sentence correction
✔ Error detection
✔ Vocabulary interpretation
✔ One-word substitution
Almost every BCECE LE Technical English question paper asks:
Identify the collective noun
Choose the correct collective noun
Pick the wrong collective noun
Why Are Collective Nouns Important in English?
Reduces repetition
Instead of saying:“many cows”
“a group of cows”
You can say: a herd of cows.
Makes writing more natural
It gives your sentence clarity and fluency.Used in exams, job interviews, and communication
Especially in competitive exams like BCECE LE, SSC, Airforce Y group, and Banking Prelims.Shows advanced vocabulary
Using words like “a brood of chickens” or “a clutch of eggs” shows strong English usage.Used in journalism and academic writing
Reporters often use terms like “a panel of experts” or “a fleet of vehicles”.
Rules of Collective Nouns
1. They take singular verbs most of the time
The team is playing well.
The class is studying.
But sometimes, when the individuals are acting separately:
The team are arguing among themselves.
2. They always represent a group
A single person cannot be called a crew or board.
3. They can be used with of
Example: a bunch of flowers, a group of islands.
100+ Collective Nouns
(Largest list for BCECE LE — expanded & categorized)
1. Collective Nouns for People
a board of directors
a staff of employees
a jury of judges
a band of musicians
a choir of singers
a gang of thieves
a mob of rioters
a regiment of soldiers
a squad of police
a company of actors
a team of players
a class of students
a troop of dancers
a crowd of people
an audience of listeners
a panel of experts
a committee of members
a family of four
a tribe of natives
a group of tourists
a cast of performers
a crew of sailors
a party of friends
a council of ministers
a flock of tourists
a posse of sheriffs
a caravan of travellers
2. Collective Nouns for Animals
Farm & Domestic Animals
a herd of cows
a herd of buffaloes
a flock of sheep
a team of oxen
a drove of cattle
a litter of kittens
a litter of puppies
Wild Animals
a pride of lions
a troop of monkeys
a leap of leopards
a streak of tigers
a crash of rhinos
a pack of wolves
a sloth of bears
a parade of elephants
a colony of bats
a school of dolphins
a pod of whales
Insects
a swarm of bees
a cloud of mosquitoes
an army of ants
a brood of insects
a plague of locusts
3. Collective Nouns for Birds
a flock of birds
a flight of butterflies
a flight of birds
a brood of hens
a clutch of chicks
a murder of crows
a charm of finches
a conspiracy of ravens
an unkindness of ravens
a wake of vultures
a gaggle of geese
a wedge of swans
a squabble of seagulls
a cast of hawks
a descent of woodpeckers
a huddle of penguins
4. Collective Nouns for Things
a bundle of sticks
a bouquet of flowers
a fleet of ships
a pack of cards
a set of tools
a bunch of keys
a pile of clothes
a heap of sand
a cluster of stars
a string of pearls
a series of events
a range of mountains
a chain of islands
a stack of papers
a bale of cotton
a basket of fruits
a galaxy of stars
a library of books
a museum of art
a network of computers
a forest of trees
a grove of mangoes
a fleet of trucks
a grid of circuits
a collection of notes
a folder of documents
5. Collective Nouns for Places
a range of hills
a block of buildings
a colony of houses
a neighborhood of homes
a state of islands
a continent of countries
a cluster of villages
a fleet of ships
a bunch of keys
a pride of lions
a swarm of bees
a herd of cattle
a bouquet of flowers
a school of fish
a brood of hens
a pack of cards
a library of books
a team of players
Common Mistakes (Exam Trap Points)
Wrong | Correct |
|---|---|
a pack of cows | a herd of cows |
a school of lions | a pride of lions |
a clutch of tigers | a streak of tigers |
a gang of cows | a herd of cows |
a herd of wolves | a pack of wolves |
Collective Nouns in One-Word Substitution
group of ships → fleet
group of singers → choir
group of flowers → bouquet
group of judges → jury
group of soldiers → regiment
group of mountains → range
group of stars → galaxy
Practice Questions (For BCECE LE)
Q1. A ______ of wolves.
✔ pack
Q2. A ______ of books.
✔ library
Q3. A ______ of dancers performed on stage.
✔ troupe
Q4. A ______ of elephants.
✔ parade
Q5. A ______ of chicks.
✔ clutch
How to Prepare Collective Nouns for BCECE LE
Preparing Collective Nouns for BCECE LE is actually very easy. You don’t need heavy grammar books—just a consistent habit and smart practice. Here is the simple routine most toppers follow, and you can follow the same.
1. Revise Collective Nouns Daily (5–10 minutes only)
Just memorizing once is not enough.
Your brain remembers best when it revises daily in small chunks.
What to do daily?
Pick 10–15 collective nouns
Say them loudly
Use them in small sentences
Test yourself for 2 minutes
After 7–10 days, you will remember the entire list without effort.
This technique works for everyone.
2. Practice Quiz Questions (Telegram Groups Help a Lot)
Most students make the mistake of only reading.
Reading does not guarantee marks. Practice does.
Join active BCECE LE Telegram groups where students post:
Quick quizzes
Fill in the blanks
One-word substitutions
Error spotting
Previous year questions
Daily quick quizzes help you apply what you learned and train your memory.
If you want, I can also create daily quiz sets for your website.
3. Watch Helpful YouTube Channels (Eulogy is the Best for English Basics)
If you struggle with grammar basics or vocabulary, YouTube helps a lot because you see real examples.I strongly recommend:
👉 Eulogy YouTube Channel
Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/@edulogy
This channel is very popular for Bcece LE exam among students because explanations are simple, clear, Daily live lectures.
4. Analyse Your Mistakes (This Is Where Students Improve Fast)
Don’t just check answers—analyse the mistakes:
Why did you choose the wrong collective noun?
Did you misunderstand the group?
Did two options look similar?
Do you need to revise the list again?
Every mistake that you understand → becomes a permanent learning.
5. Create a Mini Notebook (This Works Like Magic)
Use a small pocket diary and write:
5 collective nouns daily
5 synonyms
5 antonyms
2 one-word substitutions
Read the diary whenever you get free time:
In bus
During break
Before sleeping
You will absorb everything naturally.
6. Use Active Learning (Explain to a Friend)
Teaching someone is the fastest way to learn.
Try this once:
Ask a friend:
“Tell me 10 animals, I’ll tell you their collective nouns.”
You will master everything in just one week.
7. Give Mini Tests Weekly
Choose Sunday or any one day in the week:
Take a 20-question test
Time yourself for 10 minutes
Try to score 18+
Track your progress
This builds exam confidence.
Final Tip: Keep It Light & Fun
Don’t treat English like a burden.
Treat it like a game.
When learning collective nouns:
Think visually
Make funny sentences
Compare meanings
Study with friends
The more fun you add, the better you remember.
Short Notes on Collective Nouns (Important for Exam)
Collective nouns are special naming words used for groups. They help avoid repetition, improve vocabulary, and give precision to your sentences. These nouns act singular most of the time but depend on context. They appear frequently in competitive exams and help in various grammar tasks.
Conclusion
Collective nouns are one of the easiest scoring chapters in BCECE LE Technical English.
If you memorize the standard lists and practice a few questions, you can easily secure 20 marks from this topic alone.