Collective nouns, or nomi collettivi, describe generic groups of things, people, or animals.
In English, when we use collective nouns, our subject-verb agreement depends on whether we are referring to the entire group, or the individuals within it. It is also more common in British English than American English to use plural verbs with collective nouns.
In Italian, however, collective nouns are always used with verbs in the third person singular. The exception to this is when the noun is followed by a qualifier. For example, in Italian we might say both Il branco di cani abbaia / abbaiano (The pack of dogs barks).
Following are some expanded categories of collective nouns you will often encounter.
NB: The words branco and gregge can be used for groups of humans in a figurative sense. Gregge is used for a group of people who have lost their sense of autonomy (similar to the English phrase, "they’re acting like sheep"). Branco is used for a group of people who have become aggressive.
Other types of words can also assume a collective value:
In English, when we use collective nouns, our subject-verb agreement depends on whether we are referring to the entire group, or the individuals within it. It is also more common in British English than American English to use plural verbs with collective nouns.
In Italian, however, collective nouns are always used with verbs in the third person singular. The exception to this is when the noun is followed by a qualifier. For example, in Italian we might say both Il branco di cani abbaia / abbaiano (The pack of dogs barks).
Following are some expanded categories of collective nouns you will often encounter.
Persone
la follaLa folla cresceva di minuto in minuto e la polizia faceva fatica a mantenerla sotto controllo.The crowd was growing by the minute and the police had a hard time keeping it under control. la genteLa gente ha seguito con attenzione i risultati elettorali.People have been closely following the election results. la famigliaLa mia famiglia è sparsa in giro per il mondo.My family is scattered all over the world. l’esercitoAll’epoca fu l’esercito più potente del mondo.Back then, it was the most powerful army in the world. la squadraLa nostra squadra ha vinto solo due partite quest’anno.Our team won only two games this year. |
Cose
la fruttaMi piace avere sempre una ciotola ricolma di frutta sul tavolo della cucina.I like to keep a bowl filled with fruit on the kitchen table. la robaIn quel cassetto c’è solo roba mia.All the stuff in that drawer is mine. mazzoMia sorella mi ha regalato uno splendido mazzo di fiori.My sister gave me a beautiful bunch of flowers. mucchioLe tue chiavi sono sotto quel mucchio di camicie sul letto.Your keys are under that stack of shirts on the bed. |
Animali
| uno stormo di uccelli | a flock of birds | |
| una mandria di cavalli/mucche/vacche/buoi | a herd of horses, cows, oxen | |
| un gregge di pecore | a flock of sheep | |
| un banco di pesci | a school/shoal of fish | |
| un branco di lupi | a pack of wolves | |
| uno sciame di insetti | a swarm of insects |
NB: The words branco and gregge can be used for groups of humans in a figurative sense. Gregge is used for a group of people who have lost their sense of autonomy (similar to the English phrase, "they’re acting like sheep"). Branco is used for a group of people who have become aggressive.
Other types of words can also assume a collective value:
Elementi numerali
(Explaining a united group or an approximate quantity.)una dozzinaUna dozzina di persone è coinvolta / sono coinvolte nello scandalo.A dozen people are involved in the scandal. un centinaioUn centinaio di immigrati è sbarcato / sono sbarcati nelle prime ore dell’alba.About a hundred immigrants disembarked in the first hours of the dawn. |
Nomi astratti
(Representing a category of people)la gioventùLa gioventù di oggi vuole tutto e subito.Young people today want everything now. la stampaNon credete a ciò che la stampa scrive.Don’t believe what the press writes. |