The General Rule
* Singular: When a collective noun refers to the group as a single unit, it takes a singular verb and pronoun.
* Example: *The team is playing well this season. It has won five games in a row.* ("Team" is acting as one unit.)
* Plural: When a collective noun refers to the individual members of the group, it takes a plural verb and pronoun.
* Example: *The team are arguing about who should play quarterback. They can't agree.* ("Team" refers to individual players disagreeing.)
Factors Influencing Choice
* Context: The sentence's context often provides clues about how the noun is being used.
* Emphasis: If you want to emphasize the group's unity, use a singular verb and pronoun. If you want to highlight individual members, use plural forms.
* Regional Variations: While this general rule applies, regional dialects and individual preferences can influence usage.
Examples
* Singular: *The family is going on vacation next week.* (The whole family is treated as one unit.)
* Plural: *The family are all excited about their trip. They've been planning it for months.* (Focus on the individual members within the family.)
Key Points
* The most common usage treats collective nouns as singular when referring to the group as a whole.
* However, the plural treatment is acceptable, especially when emphasizing the individual members.
* Pay attention to the context and your intended meaning to make the right choice.
Let me know if you have any other questions about collective nouns!