Explain the concept of subject-verb agreement with collective nouns.

Subject-verb agreement is a grammatical rule that states that the subject and verb in a sentence must agree in number. This means that a singular subject should be paired with a singular verb, and a plural subject should be paired with a plural verb. However, when it comes to collective nouns, the concept of subject-verb agreement can become a bit more complex.

Collective nouns refer to a group of individuals or things as a single unit. Examples of collective nouns include words like "team," "family," "audience," "committee," and "government." These nouns can be singular or plural depending on the context.

When a collective noun is considered as a single unit or entity, it is treated as a singular noun, and therefore, a singular verb is used. For example:

- The team is practicing for the upcoming match.
- The committee has made a decision.

In these sentences, "team" and "committee" are collective nouns that are treated as singular subjects, and thus, the singular verbs "is" and "has" are used.

However, when the collective noun is used to emphasize the individual members of the group, it is treated as a plural noun, and a plural verb is used. For example:

- The team are all wearing their jerseys proudly.
- The committee are discussing different proposals.

In these sentences, the collective nouns "team" and "committee" are used to highlight the individual members, so they are treated as plural subjects, and the plural verbs "are" and "are" are used.

It is important to note that the choice between singular and plural verbs with collective nouns depends on the intended meaning and context of the sentence. If the emphasis is on the group as a whole, a singular verb is used. If the emphasis is on the individual members, a plural verb is used.

In summary, subject-verb agreement with collective nouns can be a bit nuanced. The key is to determine whether the collective noun is being used to refer to the group as a single unit or to emphasize the individual members. By understanding the context and intended meaning, one can correctly choose between singular and plural verbs to ensure subject-verb agreement.