English: collective nouns, part 1

Tutoring English, common questions can be interesting. The tutor continues about collective nouns.

In my last post I begin about collective nouns, such as group.

A natural question about them: do you refer to them as singular, or plural? The answer is interesting. You can refer to a collective noun as plural if you mean its members are acting independently:

The group are planning to each work from their own homes.

However, you refer to it as singular when they act together:

The group is scheduled to meet at 7:30pm.

Source:

Hodges, Horner, et al. Harbrace Handbook for Canadians. Scarborough: Nelson, 2003.

Jack of Oracle Tutoring by Jack and Diane, Campbell River, BC.