In British English, collective nouns such as team, family, government, and staff can take either a singular or a plural verb. The choice depends on meaning.
Use a singular verb when you see the group as one unit. For example: The team is playing well. Here, the team is treated as a single whole.
Use a plural verb when you are thinking about the people in the group as individuals. For example: The team are wearing new shirts. This focuses on the members, not just the group as one thing.
- Singular: The government is under pressure.
- Plural: The government are arguing among themselves.
- Singular: My family is large.
- Plural: My family are all arriving at different times.
In American English, singular verbs are more common with these nouns. In British English, both forms are standard, as long as the verb matches the meaning you want to express.
