Collective Nouns

Collective nouns and amounts considered as a whole

The following rules apply in formal English, but may or may not be observed in informal English.
a. Collective nouns
Collective nouns aresingular nouns which refer to a group. The words audience, class, family, flock, group and team are examples of collective nouns.

A collective noun takes a singular verb when the group referred to actsas a whole or is considered as a whole.
e.g. Our team has won the game.
      That family is well-known.
In the first example, the singular verb has won is used, since the collective noun teamrefers to a group acting as a whole. In the second example, the singular verb is is used, since the collective noun family refers to a group being considered as a whole.
However, a collective noun takesa plural verb when the members of the group are considered to be acting individually.
e.g. The flock were running, playing and searching for fresh grass.
      The audience were throwing flowers andjewelry onto the stage.
In the first example, the use of the plural verb were running indicates that the members of the flock are considered to be acting individually. Similarly, in the secondexample, the use of the plural verb were throwing indicates that the members of the audience are considered to be acting individually.
b. Amounts considered as a whole
A noun subject naming a unit ofcurrency or a unit of measurement takes a singular verb when the amount referred to is being considered as a whole.
e.g. Ten dollars is my best offer.
      Five minutes is all that is required.
     Two years is a long time.
In each of the above examples, the amount of money or length of time referred to by the subject is being considered as a whole. Thus, in each case a singular verb, is, isused.
4. For each of the following sentences, fill in the blank with either the singular or the plural verb form shown in brackets.
  The committee ____ put forward a new proposal. (has, have)
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