Question

example 2: the committee leave their homes at different times. here the committee members are acting as individuals, so we have to use the plural verb, leave.
practice 5: subject-verb agreement with collective nouns
for each of the following sentences, first decide if the collective noun is acting as a unit or as individuals. then circle the correct verb.

1. my class cannot (agree, agrees) on where to go for a class picnic.
2. this class (is, are) very quiet today.
3. the orchestra (was, were) looking over their new music.
4. our school orchestra (is, are) ranked first in the state.
5. the army (was, were) fighting for their lives during the conflict.
6. the army (use, uses) anyone who qualifies for the job.
7. the pack of wolves (live, lives) in a den.
8. the pack of wolves spread out and (surround, surrounds) their prey.
9. the crew (go, goes) to their homes for lunch.
10. the crew (depend, depends) on supplies being delivered on time to the job site.
11. the flock of ducks (scatter, scatters) when they hear the crack of a hunting rifle.
12. the flock of ducks (fly, flies) south for the winter.
13. the band (play, plays) at every football game.
14. the band must (sell, sells) fifty candy bars each to raise money for new instruments.
15. the audience (give, gives) a standing ovation when they like the performance.
16. the audience (is, are) leaving through the back doors.
17. the navy (is, are) required to be in their uniforms while they are on duty.
18. the navy (is, are) being sent to the south pacific.
19. my team (was, were) encouraged to do their best at every football practice.
20. my team (is, are) going to win the game again this friday!

Explanation:

1. In "My class cannot (agree, agrees) on where to go for a class picnic", "class" acts as individuals (different opinions on picnic location), so use "agree".
2. "This class (is, are) very quiet today", "class" acts as a unit (overall quietness), so use "is".
3. "The orchestra (was, were) looking over their new music", "orchestra" acts as individuals (each member looking at music), so use "were".
4. "Our school orchestra (is, are) ranked first in the state", "orchestra" acts as a unit (overall ranking), so use "is".
5. "The army (was, were) fighting for their lives during the conflict", "army" acts as individuals (each soldier fighting), so use "were".
6. "The army (use, uses) anyone who qualifies for the job", "army" acts as a unit (general recruitment), so use "uses".
7. "The pack of wolves (live, lives) in a den", "pack" acts as a unit (the whole group's residence), so use "lives".
8. "The pack of wolves spread out and (surround, surrounds) their prey", "pack" acts as individuals (wolves spreading out), so use "surround".
9. "The crew (go, goes) to their homes for lunch", "crew" acts as individuals (each going home), so use "go".
10. "The crew (depend, depends) on supplies being delivered on time to the job site", "crew" acts as a unit (overall dependence), so use "depends".
11. "The flock of ducks (scatter, scatters) when they hear the crack of a hunting rifle", "flock" acts as individuals (ducks scattering), so use "scatter".
12. "The flock of ducks (fly, flies) south for the winter", "flock" acts as a unit (migration as a group), so use "flies".
13. "The band (play, plays) at every football game", "band" acts as a unit (performing as a group), so use "plays".
14. "The band must (sell, sells) fifty candy bars each to raise money for new instruments", "band" acts as individuals (each member selling), so use "sell".
15. "The audience (give, gives) a standing ovation when they like the performance", "audience" acts as a unit (overall action), so use "gives".
16. "The audience (is, are) leaving through the back doors", "audience" acts as individuals (leaving separately), so use "are".
17. "The navy (is, are) required to be in their uniforms while they are on duty", "navy" acts as individuals (each member in uniform), so use "are".
18. "The navy (is, are) being sent to the South Pacific", "navy" acts as a unit (deployment as a whole), so use "is".
19. "My team (was, were) encouraged to do their best at every football practice", "team" acts as individuals (each encouraged), so use "were".
20. "My team (is, are) going to win the game again this Friday!", "team" acts as a unit (overall winning expectation), so use "is".

Answer:

1. agree
2. is
3. were
4. is
5. were
6. uses
7. lives
8. surround
9. go
10. depends
11. scatter
12. flies
13. plays
14. sell
15. gives
16. are
17. are
18. is
19. were
20. is