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).
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).