Plural form subjects with a singular meaning in sentence?

You're asking about collective nouns! These are words that refer to a group of people or things, but are treated grammatically as singular.

Here's a breakdown:

What are collective nouns?

Collective nouns represent a group as a whole. Some common examples include:

* People: team, family, committee, audience, jury

* Animals: flock (birds), herd (cattle), pack (wolves)

* Things: furniture, equipment, luggage

Why are they tricky?

The trick is that while they refer to multiple individuals, they function as a single unit in the sentence. This means you use singular verbs and pronouns with them.

Examples:

* The team is practicing for the game. (Not "are" because "team" is singular)

* My family has moved to a new city. (Not "have" because "family" is singular)

* The furniture was delivered yesterday. (Not "were" because "furniture" is singular)

When can they be plural?

There are a few exceptions where a collective noun can be treated as plural:

* When you're focusing on the individual members of the group: The team are all wearing different uniforms. (Focusing on individual players)

* When the group is acting independently: The committee disagree on the budget. (Each committee member has a different opinion)

Remember:

Use your best judgment and consider the context. If the group is acting as a unified whole, use the singular form. If you're highlighting the individuals within the group, use the plural form.