Subject-Verb Agreement: Collective Nouns

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What is subject-verb agreement?

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Subject-verb agreement is the grammatical rule that the subject of a sentence must agree in number with its verb. This means that a singular subject takes a singular verb, and a plural subject takes a plural verb.

Front

What is a collective noun?

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A collective noun is a word that represents a group of people, animals, or things. Examples include 'team', 'flock', and 'class'.

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When do we use a singular verb with collective nouns?

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We use a singular verb with collective nouns when the group is acting as a single unit. For example, 'The team wins the game.'

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When do we use a plural verb with collective nouns?

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We use a plural verb with collective nouns when the individuals in the group are acting separately. For example, 'The team are arguing among themselves.'

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Example of a sentence with a collective noun and a singular verb.

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The flock of birds flies south for the winter.

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Example of a sentence with a collective noun and a plural verb.

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The crew are preparing the ship for departure.

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What is the correct verb form for 'The school staff _________ at least once a month'?

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The correct verb form is 'meets'.

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What is the correct verb form for 'The herd of elephants (runs, run) away from a pride of lions'?

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The correct verb form is 'runs'.

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What is the correct verb form for 'The police (control, controls) the crowd'?

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The correct verb form is 'control'.

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What is the correct verb form for 'The media (wait, waits) for the press conference to start'?

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The correct verb form is 'waits'.