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Singular expressions with plural verbs

Groups of people: The team is/are …​

In British English, singular words like family, team, government, which refer to groups of people, can have either singular or plural verbs and pronouns.

  • The team is/are going to lose.

Plural forms are common when the group is seen as a collection of people doing personal things like deciding, hoping or wanting. Singular forms are more common when the group is seen as an impersonal unit. Compare:

  • My family have decided to move to York. They’re going in April.
    The average family has 3.6 members. It is smaller than 50 years ago.
  • My company are wonderful. They do all they can for me.
    My company was founded in the 18th century.

We prefer who as a relative pronoun with plural forms, and which with singular forms. Compare:

  • The committee, who are hoping to announce important changes, …
  • The committee, which is elected at the annual meeting, …

When a group noun is used with a singular determiner (e.g. a/an, each, every, this, that), singular verbs and pronouns are normal. Compare:

  • The team are full of enthusiasm.
  • A team which is full of enthusiasm has a better chance of winning. (More natural than A team who are full …)

Sometimes singular and plural forms are mixed.

  • The group gave its first concert in June and they are now planning a tour.

Examples of group nouns which can be used with both singular and plural verbs in British English:

  • bank
  • the BBC
  • choir
  • class
  • club
  • committee
  • company
  • England (the football team)
  • family
  • firm
  • government
  • jury
  • ministry
  • orchestra
  • party
  • public
  • school
  • staff
  • team
  • union

In American English singular verbs are normal with most of these nouns in all cases (though family can have a plural verb). Plural pronouns can be used.

  • The team is in Detroit this weekend. They expect to win.

A number of people have …​

Many singular quantifying expressions (see here) can be used with plural nouns and pronouns; plural verbs are normally used in this case.

  • A number of people have tried to find the treasure, but they have all failed. (More natural than A number of people has tried …)
  • A group of us are going to take a boat through the Dutch canals.
  • A couple of my friends plan to open a travel agency. (not A couple of my friends plans …)
  • A lot of social problems are caused by unemployment. (not A lot of social problems is caused …)
  • The majority of criminals are non-violent.
  • Some of these people are relations and the rest are old friends.
  • Half of his students don’t understand a word he says. (not Half of his students doesn’t …)
note

For more about some of these expressions, (see here). For the rest, (see here). For (a) few, (see here).

For singular and plural nouns with fractions, (see here).