Words Denoting Groups And Collections
To talk about a limited quantity of something we use a word like piece or bit, together with of, before an uncountable noun. Bit is informal, and usually suggests a small quantity.
- A piece/bit of cake/bread
- Some pieces/bits of paper/wood
- A piece/bit of news/information
There are other words too. Some common examples are given below.
- A bar of soap/chocolate
- A blade of grass
- A block of ice
- A drop of water/oil/vinegar
- A grain of sand/salt/rice
- An item of clothing/furniture
- A loaf of bread
- A slice of bread/cake/meat
- A sheet of paper/metal/plastic/stamps
- A stick of chalk/celery
- A suit of clothes/armour
- A bale of cotton
Pairs
Pair is used for many things that come in pairs.
- A pair of shoes/socks/ear-rings
- A pair of glasses/binoculars
- A pair of trousers/jeans/pyjamas
- A pair of scissors/pliers
Collections
Special words are used before certain nouns to talk about groups or collections.
- An army/a regiment/a battalion of soldiers
- A band of musicians
- A basket of fruits
- A bench of judges
- A bevy of girls/women
- A board of trustees/directors/examiners
- A brood of chickens
- A bunch of flowers/grapes
- A bundle of sticks
- A caravan of merchants/pilgrims/travelers
- A chain of mountains
- A congress of representatives/delegates
- A consignment of goods
- A crew of sailors
- A constellation of stars
- A fleet of ships
- A flight of birds
- A flock of sheep/geese
- A galaxy of stars
- A gang of prisoners/robbers/thieves/labourers
- A group of islands
- A heap of junk/stones/sand
- A herd of cattle/deer/goats
- A hive of bees
- A horde of pirates/robbers/savages
- A league of nations
- A litter of pigs/puppies
- A pack of hounds
- A pride of lions/peacocks
- A swarm of bees/ants
- A volley of shots/bullets
