Short answer
In British English, yes. A collective noun such as class, team or staff can take a singular verb when the group is treated as one unit, or a plural verb when the speaker is focusing on the individual members.
In S06E19, we use the example of a class with different opinions. The class disagrees with the decision presents the class as one group. The class disagree about what to do next highlights the fact that the members do not share one view.
Try this in your next lesson
The team ___ ready for the match.
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Listen to the whole S06E19 discussion in our podcast episode guide here🔊.
The same idea appears with teams. The team is ready treats the team as a unit. The team are changing into their kits focuses more naturally on the individual players carrying out separate actions.
This is one reason learners can find collective nouns confusing. The grammar is influenced by meaning, not only by whether the noun looks singular on the page.
Teachers should also distinguish this from other agreement patterns. The number of complaints has increased is singular because the subject is the number. Each of the students has… is singular because each controls the agreement.
American English more often prefers singular agreement with collective nouns, so learners may encounter variation across sources. The useful teaching point is to connect the verb choice to how the speaker is presenting the group.
What should learners ask themselves?
Are we imagining the group as one unit, or the people inside the group as individuals? That meaning question is often more helpful than trying to memorise a single fixed verb for every collective noun.
Our suggested classroom adaptation of the episode discussion.
Gav and Em suggest: One group or many people?
- The team ___ ready for the match.
- The team ___ arguing about where to sit.
- The staff ___ meeting at 10.
- The staff ___ all wearing different uniforms today.
Ask learners to choose is/are and explain whether they are imagining one unit or individual members.
Answers and teacher guidance
Both singular and plural can be possible in British English when the intended meaning supports the choice. Ready for the match naturally permits is for one unit; arguing and different uniforms invite are for individual members. The staff meeting at ten can be presented either way. Accept a clear consistent explanation rather than marking every alternative wrong.
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