Cohesive Devices - Exercise

A collective noun is a type of noun that refers to a group of people, animals, or objects as a single entity. Here are some examples:

Traffic on the highway came to a standstill due to a herd of cattle crossing.
The audience at the evening performance erupted into applause.


While collective nouns technically represent multiple entities, they are often treated as singular in American English:

The committee has finalized its decision.
A pack of wolves was spotted in the forest.

However, in British English, collective nouns are more commonly treated as plural:

The team were celebrating their victory.
The staff were attending a training session.


Tips on Using Collective Nouns as Singular or Plural:

In American English, it's generally safer to treat collective nouns as singular unless emphasizing individual actions:
The band performs every Friday night.
The flock of birds was migrating south.

If a singular verb sounds awkward, consider rephrasing the sentence to make the subject plural by adding words like 'members':
The committee members were divided in their opinions.
The jury members were deliberating for hours.

Maintain consistency in number throughout your writing.  If a pronoun is used to refer back to the collective noun, it should be singular or plural depending on how you treat the collective noun:
The team are planning a vacation. They are considering various destinations.
The group of students has completed its project presentation.

Exercise:

Go through the examples below and try to construct similar sentences.  Try to see if both singular and plural usage are possible. 

The jury was unable to reach a verdict. (Singular: "Jury" refers to a single entity, the collective decision-making body.)

The flock of birds was migrating south for the winter. (Singular: "Flock" represents a unified group of birds acting together.)

The committee has finalized its decision. (Singular: "Committee" denotes a singular entity making decisions.)

The team is celebrating its victory. (Singular: "Team" refers to a unified group celebrating together.)

The swarm of bees was buzzing around the hive. (Singular: "Swarm" signifies a single mass of bees.)

The audience was captivated by the performance. (Singular: "Audience" collectively reacts as one entity to the performance.)

The herd of elephants was peacefully grazing. (Singular: "Herd" indicates a single group of elephants.)

The pack of wolves was spotted in the forest. (Singular: "Pack" represents a single group of wolves.)

The group of students has completed its project presentation. (Singular: "Group" refers to a single unit of students completing the presentation together.)

The congregation was singing hymns during the service. (Singular: "Congregation" acts as a unified body during the service.)

The committee members were divided in their opinions. (Plural: "Members" indicates individual members within the committee, making it plural.)

The team members are practicing diligently for the upcoming match. (Plural: "Members" emphasizes individual actions within the team, making it plural.)

The staff were attending a training session. (Plural: "Staff" refers to multiple individuals attending the session, making it plural.)

The fleet of ships was preparing for departure. (Singular: "Fleet" denotes a singular group of ships.)

The panel of judges has selected the winner. (Singular: "Panel" represents a single entity making the decision.)

The troupe of actors was rehearsing for the play. (Singular: "Troupe" signifies a single collective of actors.)

The committee has announced its decision. (Singular: "Committee" acts as a single decision-making body.)

The audience members were clapping enthusiastically. (Plural: "Members" highlights the individual actions within the audience, making it plural.)

The class was excited about their upcoming field trip. (Singular: "Class" represents a single group of students.)

The herd of cattle was crossing the road slowly. (Singular: "Herd" indicates a single collective group of cattle.)