Why collective nouns are tricky

Collective nouns like "team" and "group" can be tricky because they can be both singular and plural in meaning, depending on the context. The choice between a singular or plural verb depends on whether you want to emphasize the group as a single unit or as individual members.

If you want to emphasize the group as a single unit, use a singular verb. For example:

• The team is preparing for their next game.
• The group of birds flies south for the winter.

If you want to emphasize the individual members of the group, use a plural verb. For example:

• The team are discussing their strategies.
• The group of birds are making a racket.

In general, the singular verb is more common with collective nouns, but the plural verb is used in certain contexts to emphasize the individuality of the group's members.