Vocabulary - 集合名词 Collective Nouns
Vocabulary
troop
一群；一队（常用于 a troop of monkeys（一群猴子））
A troop of monkeys is in the jungle.
We saw a troop of monkeys.
herd
兽群，常用于牛、象、鹿等大型动物
We saw a herd of elephants.
The herd is near the river.
litter
一窝刚出生的小动物（常用于 puppies（小狗）、kittens（小猫））
The dog has a litter of puppies.
We saw a litter of kittens.
nest
窝；巢（在这里也可表示"一窝老鼠"，如 a nest of mice）
We found a nest of mice.
A bird built a nest in the tree.
brood
一窝幼鸟、小鸡
The hen has a brood of chicks.
The brood follows the mother hen.
school
一群鱼
We saw a school of fish.
A school of fish swam past us.
band
乐队（a band of musicians/guitarists and drummers = 一支乐队）
He plays in a band.
The band is playing music.
troupe
剧团；表演团
A troupe of dancers performed on stage.
The troupe travelled to another city.
collection
收藏；收藏品；一批物品（强调"收藏起来的一批东西"，如 a collection of necklaces）
She has a collection of stamps.
This is my coin collection.
cluster
一簇；一串；一群紧密聚在一起的东西
There is a cluster of stars.
We saw a cluster of grapes.
bunch
一束；一串；一捆
She bought a bunch of flowers.
I ate a bunch of grapes.
Grammar
Collective Nouns · 集合名词表示一群人、动物或东西
a + collective noun + of + plural noun
用一个词表示"一群人、动物或东西"，这些搭配大多是固定的，最好把整个短语一起记，不能随便替换。
a troop of monkeys = 一群猴子 | a herd of elephants = 一群大象 | a school of fish = 一群鱼 | a band of musicians = 一支乐队 | a troupe of dancers = 一个舞蹈团 | a bunch of flowers = 一束花
Easily Confused
litter
brood
litter 用于哺乳动物一窝刚出生的幼崽，如 puppies、kittens
brood 用于一窝幼鸟、小鸡
The dog has a litter of puppies.
The hen has a brood of chicks.
nest
school
nest 在这里表示"一窝老鼠"（也表示鸟巢本身）
school 专门用于"一群鱼"，和学校 school 是同一个词但意思不同
We found a nest of mice.
A school of fish swam past us.
band
troupe
band 指一支乐队，成员是 musicians（吉他手、鼓手等）
troupe 指一个表演团，成员是 dancers 等表演者
The band is playing music.
The troupe travelled to another city.