Do I use 'the team is' or 'the team are'?

In American English, use 'the team is' (singular). In British English, you can use either 'the team is' (emphasising unity) or 'the team are' (emphasising individual players), depending on the context and what you want to emphasise.

How do sports commentaries differ between American and British English?

British sports commentary consistently uses plural verbs when discussing team actions (e.g., 'Arsenal are playing brilliantly'), emphasising the individual players working together. American commentary treats teams as singular corporate entities (e.g., 'The Lakers is playing brilliantly'), focusing on institutional identity.

Should I say 'the government has' or 'the government have'?

In American English, always use 'the government has' (singular). In British English, you can use 'the government has' when emphasising governmental unity, or 'the government have' when emphasising individual ministers' actions or internal disagreements.

Do I use 'the team is' or 'the team are'?

In American English, use 'the team is' (singular). In British English, you can use either 'the team is' (emphasising unity) or 'the team are' (emphasising individual players), depending on the context and what you want to emphasise.

How do sports commentaries differ between American and British English?

British sports commentary consistently uses plural verbs when discussing team actions (e.g., 'Arsenal are playing brilliantly'), emphasising the individual players working together. American commentary treats teams as singular corporate entities (e.g., 'The Lakers is playing brilliantly'), focusing on institutional identity.

Should I say 'the government has' or 'the government have'?

In American English, always use 'the government has' (singular). In British English, you can use 'the government has' when emphasising governmental unity, or 'the government have' when emphasising individual ministers' actions or internal disagreements.

Do I use 'the team is' or 'the team are'?

In American English, use 'the team is' (singular). In British English, you can use either 'the team is' (emphasising unity) or 'the team are' (emphasising individual players), depending on the context and what you want to emphasise.

How do sports commentaries differ between American and British English?

British sports commentary consistently uses plural verbs when discussing team actions (e.g., 'Arsenal are playing brilliantly'), emphasising the individual players working together. American commentary treats teams as singular corporate entities (e.g., 'The Lakers is playing brilliantly'), focusing on institutional identity.

Should I say 'the government has' or 'the government have'?

In American English, always use 'the government has' (singular). In British English, you can use 'the government has' when emphasising governmental unity, or 'the government have' when emphasising individual ministers' actions or internal disagreements.

American vs British Grammar - Collective Nouns and Agreement

Collective nouns represent one of the most systematic and philosophically interesting differences between American and British English. These differences reveal fundamental cultural approaches to understanding groups, institutions, and the relationship between individual and collective identity that have evolved differently across the Atlantic over centuries of separate linguistic development.

British English treats collective nouns with remarkable flexibility, allowing both singular and plural agreement depending on whether the speaker conceptualises the group as a unified entity or as a collection of individuals. This system provides nuanced expression of group dynamics, enabling speakers to emphasise unity when using singular verbs or individual agency when using plural verbs.

American English maintains a more consistent approach, typically treating collective nouns as singular entities regardless of context. This reflects broader American cultural emphases on institutional unity and clear, unambiguous communication. The American system prioritises grammatical consistency and simplicity over the contextual flexibility that characterises British usage.

Understanding these differences is crucial for international communication, as they affect everything from sports commentary to business reports, political discourse to academic writing. Whether you're describing how a team performs, how a government responds, or how a family celebrates, your choice of singular or plural agreement immediately signals which variety of English you're using and reflects deeper cultural assumptions about collective action and identity.

Key Differences Overview

General Approach

British English: Flexible agreement based on context and speaker's perspective

American English: Consistent singular agreement for institutional unity

British emphasises group dynamics; American emphasises institutional consistency

British English (Flexible):

The team are playing well
The government have decided
The family are arguing
The band were rehearsing
The committee are meeting
The staff have complained

American English (Singular Focus):

The team is playing well
The government has decided
The family is arguing
The band was rehearsing
The committee is meeting
The staff has complained

British Context-Based Agreement

British speakers choose singular or plural based on conceptual focus

Unity = singular verbs; Individual action = plural verbs

Singular (Unity Focus):

The team is the best in the league

The government has a clear policy

The family is very close

The company was founded in 1995

Plural (Individual Focus):

The team are arguing amongst themselves

The government are divided on this issue

The family are all coming for dinner

The company were pleased with the results

Sports Teams: The Clearest Difference

British Sports Commentary:

Arsenal are playing brilliantly

Focus on players' individual performances

Manchester United have scored

Emphasises collective player action

American Sports Commentary:

The Lakers is playing brilliantly

Focus on team as unified organisation

The Yankees has scored

Emphasises institutional achievement

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Common Mistakes to Avoid

✗ Mixing singular and plural within the same text inconsistently

✓ "The team are playing well and they are confident" (British consistency)

Once you choose singular or plural, maintain that choice throughout the passage

✗ "The team is playing well and they are confident" (mixed agreement)

✓ "The team is playing well and it is confident" (American) OR "The team are playing well and they are confident" (British)

Pronouns must agree with your verb choice - singular verbs need singular pronouns

✗ Using British plural patterns in American academic writing

✓ "The government has decided" in American academic contexts

Match your collective noun patterns to your target audience and style guide

✗ Assuming one form is more grammatically correct

✓ Both patterns are grammatically valid within their respective varieties

Choose based on audience expectations and maintain consistency

Pronoun Agreement Patterns

British (Flexible Pronouns):

The team are playing well. They are confident.
The government have decided. They will announce it.
The family are coming. They arrive at six.
The committee are meeting. They will vote soon.

American (Singular Pronouns):

The team is playing well. It is confident.
The government has decided. It will announce it.
The family is coming. It arrives at six.
The committee is meeting. It will vote soon.

When British English Chooses Singular vs Plural

Choose singular when emphasising:

Unity, institutional identity, official policies, brand recognition, formal announcements, legal status

Choose plural when emphasising:

Individual actions, internal disagreements, personal relationships, collaborative work, human agency, diverse opinions

Context matters more than the noun:

The same collective noun can take different agreements in different sentences based on what aspect you want to highlight

International and Regional Patterns

Commonwealth countries:

Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa generally follow British patterns, especially in sports commentary

International business:

American patterns increasingly dominant in multinational corporations and global financial reporting

Academic writing:

Style guides determine usage - follow your institution's or journal's preferred variety consistently

Media influence:

American television and streaming content gradually influencing collective noun usage globally

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Common Collective Nouns Reference

Organisations:

government, committee, board

company, corporation, firm

department, ministry, agency

council, parliament, congress

Groups:

team, squad, crew, cast

band, orchestra, choir, group

family, household, clan

class, audience, crowd

Institutions:

university, college, school

hospital, clinic, surgery

police, army, navy, staff

jury, public, community

Quick Reference Guide

Key Patterns:

British (Context-Based):

Unity focus: The team is the best
Individual focus: The team are arguing
Pronouns match: they/it depending on verb choice
Sports: Usually plural (Arsenal are playing)

American (Consistent Singular):

Always singular: The team is...
Institutional focus: Emphasises unity
Pronouns: Always it/its for groups
Sports: Always singular (Lakers is playing)

Remember: Maintain consistency within each document and match your audience's expectations. Both systems are grammatically correct in their respective contexts.

Related Lessons

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American vs British Grammar - Collective Nouns and Agreement

Collective nouns represent one of the most systematic and philosophically interesting differences between American and British English. These differences reveal fundamental cultural approaches to understanding groups, institutions, and the relationship between individual and collective identity that have evolved differently across the Atlantic over centuries of separate linguistic development.

British English treats collective nouns with remarkable flexibility, allowing both singular and plural agreement depending on whether the speaker conceptualises the group as a unified entity or as a collection of individuals. This system provides nuanced expression of group dynamics, enabling speakers to emphasise unity when using singular verbs or individual agency when using plural verbs.

American English maintains a more consistent approach, typically treating collective nouns as singular entities regardless of context. This reflects broader American cultural emphases on institutional unity and clear, unambiguous communication. The American system prioritises grammatical consistency and simplicity over the contextual flexibility that characterises British usage.

Understanding these differences is crucial for international communication, as they affect everything from sports commentary to business reports, political discourse to academic writing. Whether you're describing how a team performs, how a government responds, or how a family celebrates, your choice of singular or plural agreement immediately signals which variety of English you're using and reflects deeper cultural assumptions about collective action and identity.

Key Differences Overview

General Approach

British English: Flexible agreement based on context and speaker's perspective

American English: Consistent singular agreement for institutional unity

British emphasises group dynamics; American emphasises institutional consistency

British English (Flexible):

The team are playing well
The government have decided
The family are arguing
The band were rehearsing
The committee are meeting
The staff have complained

American English (Singular Focus):

The team is playing well
The government has decided
The family is arguing
The band was rehearsing
The committee is meeting
The staff has complained