Question

Explain the subject-verb agreement rule that applies to a singular collective subject functioning as a single unit. Demonstrate your understanding of the rule by composing a sentence that uses the singular collective subject "audience."

Answer 1

If it is functioning as a single unit, then the subject is considered to be as if it's the third person singular so the verb is always in the third person singular form. Example would be "The audience is clapping". If you were to observe them as a large number of individuals instead of an entity, you could write "The audience are clapping".