Collective Nouns Subject Verb Agreement Examples

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As a copy editor with a focus on SEO, I understand the importance of maintaining proper grammar in online content. One common grammar issue that often arises is subject-verb agreement with collective nouns. Collective nouns refer to a group of individuals or things, such as team, family, or herd. Here are some examples of correct subject-verb agreement with collective nouns:

1. The team is practicing for the big game tomorrow.

In this sentence, “team” is the collective noun and “is” is the correct verb form because the team is one unit acting together.

2. The family is going on vacation next week.

Similar to the previous example, “family” is the collective noun and “is” is the correct verb form because they are one unit going on the vacation together.

3. The herd of cows is grazing in the pasture.

Here, “herd” is the collective noun and “is” is the correct verb form because the cows are acting as one unit by grazing together.

4. The staff are working hard to meet the deadline.

In this sentence, “staff” is the collective noun, but “are” is the correct verb form because staff members are individuals working separately towards a common goal.

5. The committee is divided on the issue.

In this example, “committee” is the collective noun and “is” is the correct verb form because the committee is acting as one unit, despite possibly having differing opinions.

It`s important to remember that not all collective nouns are treated the same in terms of subject-verb agreement. Some can be singular or plural depending on the context, such as “group” or “audience.” It`s always a good idea to double-check the proper verb form for each individual collective noun to ensure clear and concise writing. By using correct subject-verb agreement with collective nouns, writers can improve the clarity and effectiveness of their online content.