A collective noun — Sentence Correction Aptitude Question
A collective noun: Choose the correct sentence: Answer and worked solution on CodeKairo.
- Topic: Sentence Correction
- Section: Verbal Ability
- Difficulty: Medium
- Time target: 50 seconds
Question
Choose the correct sentence:
Options
- The committee have decided unanimously.
- The committee has decided unanimously.
- The committee are decided unanimously.
- The committee were deciding unanimously.
Show the answer and the worked solution
Correct answer: B. The committee has decided unanimously.
Worked solution
- A collective noun acting as a single unit takes a singular verb.
- Unanimously shows the committee acted together, so has is correct.
Answer: The committee has decided unanimously.
The idea
Collective nouns take a singular verb when acting as one body and a plural verb when the members act separately.
Shortcut. 'Unanimously' signals the committee acting as one body, so the verb is singular — and has is the only singular verb among the options; have, are and were are all plural.
Common trap. "The committee have decided unanimously." — British usage allows a plural verb with a collective noun, so it sounds natural, but a body deciding unanimously is acting as one unit and takes the singular.