Are collective nouns plural or singular?

Collective nouns can be tricky! They refer to a group of things (like a team, a flock, a herd), but they themselves are singular.

Here's the breakdown:

* Singular verb: The collective noun is treated as a single unit.

* Example: "The *team* is practicing hard."

* Plural verb: Sometimes, the collective noun is treated as a group of individuals acting separately.

* Example: "The *team* are arguing about the game plan."

It depends on the context and what you want to emphasize.

Think of it this way:

* Singular: The group is acting as one.

* Plural: The individuals within the group are acting independently.

Let me know if you'd like more examples!